AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885

NOVEMBER 9, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REPEAT SEX OFFENDER PLEADS GUILTY TO DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Also Pleads Guilty to Charges from Alabama of Attempting to Engage a Minor in Sexual Activity

Baltimore, Maryland - Kent Eugene Turnbaugh, aged 55, of Baltimore, Maryland, a registered sex offender, pleaded guilty today to distribution of child pornography and attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the plea agreement, beginning in April, 2006, Turnbaugh initiated and maintained contact with a thirteen year old girl residing in Alabama through instant messages, text messages, and phone calls. The contact evolved into phone conversations, email, and text messages that were sexually explicit. Turnbaugh requested that the minor send topless photos of herself and requested that she participate in phone sex. The minor referred to Turnbaugh as "Kent," however, during phone conversations he requested that she call him "daddy." Turnbaugh sent the victim a photograph he claimed to be of himself which depicted an adult male naked from the waist down. Ultimately, the girl reported the activity and an undercover officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Innocent Images Unit, assumed the girl’s on-line identity in order to investigate the conduct.

From June 22, 2006 through June 29, 2006, a member of the Birmingham Innocent Images Unit engaged in chats with Turnbaugh, using the victim’s on-line identity. During these chats Turnbaugh proposed traveling to Alabama so that the girl could engage in sexual activity with him at his hotel. Turnbaugh engaged in increasingly explicit discussions about sexual activity with the undercover officer, whom he believed was the thirteen year old girl. During a chat on June 22, 2006, Turnbaugh sent the undercover officer 36 images, at least 20 of which were of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

During a search of Turnbaugh’s residence on July 17, 2006, a computer and numerous compact discs were seized from his bedroom. Analysis of the computer and other media revealed over 600 images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including the images Turnbaugh sent to the undercover officer on June 22, 2006.

Turnbaugh faces a a minimum of 15 years imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years imprisonment for distribution of child pornography; and a minimum of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment for interstate enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, followed by supervised release for life. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for February 1, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Department of Justice launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit ww.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamera Fine, who is prosecuting the case in Maryland and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Hodge who handled the charges in the Northern District of Alabama.