June 7, 2010

OSAGE COUNTY MAN RELEASED PENDING TRIAL ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

WICHITA, KAN. – Jason Croucher, 26, Osage City, Kan., has been released from custody pending trial on federal child pornography charges.

Croucher appeared June 4, 2010, in U.S. District Court in Topeka. He was ordered released pending trial on two counts of receiving or distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. An indictment filed June 2, 2010, alleged the crimes occurred May 11, May 14, and June 22, 2009, in Osage County, Kan.

If convicted, Croucher faces a penalty of not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of receiving and distributing child pornography, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the possession charge. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the Justice Department’s Project Safe Childhood. For more information see www.projectsafechildhood.gov .

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.