Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty To Federal Charge After Being Found With Child Pornography
LOUISVILLE, KY – A convicted sex offender, registered with the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry, has entered a guilty plea in United States District Court before Chief Judge Joseph H. McKinley, Jr. to knowingly possessing child pornography announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.
Eddie G. Owens, age 58, of Louisville, Kentucky, was found to be in possession of child pornography on May 31, 2011, by a detective with the Louisville Metro Police Department and Deputy United States Marshal. The law enforcement officials were participating in a multi-agency joint task force effort verifying the addresses and actual residences of individuals on the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry. Owens had been convicted in Illinois of first degree unlawful transaction with a minor and was required by the Commonwealth of Kentucky to register with the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry. According to the registry, the victim in the Illinois case was 12 years old. In order to check Kentucky’s Sex Offender Registry, visit http://kspsor.state.ky.us.
According to the Affidavit attached to the June 7, 2011, Criminal Complaint, although Owens was in compliance with this registration obligation, he possessed numerous images of printed child pornography. On July 20, 2011, a federal grand jury meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, indicted Owens on a single count of possessing child pornography.
Owens faces a statutorily mandated minimum sentence of 10 years’ in prison and five years’ Supervised Release. He faces maximum potential penalties of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and a life term of Supervised Release.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 7, 2012, at 11:00 a.m., U.S. District Court in Louisville. Owens remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case. The Louisville Metro Police Department and United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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.
