United States Attorney Rebecca A. Gregory
Eastern District of Texas
United States Attorney Rebecca A. Gregory
Eastern District of Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: DAVILYN WALSTON
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2009 PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/txe PHONE: (409) 839-2538 CELL: (409) 553-9881
GILMER, TEXAS MAN GUILTY OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES
TYLER, TX– U.S. Attorney Rebecca A. Gregory announced today that a 33-year-old Gilmer, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas.
KERRY SCOTT BAKER pleaded guilty to three counts of producing material involving the sexual exploitation of minors today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Guthrie.
According to information presented in court, in August 2008, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Baker's Gilmer residence and seized his personal computer. A forensic analysis of the computer's hard drive revealed more than 7000 visual depictions and 400 videos involving minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Baker admitted during the plea hearing to producing and trading in child pornography. Baker was indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 2, 2008.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Baker faces up to 30 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Longview Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Baldwin.
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