North Side Man Pleads Guilty To Possession Of Child Pornography
PITTSBURGH, Pa. ‑ A resident of Allegheny County, Pa., pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Charles Edward King, 30, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about Oct. 8, 2009, King knowingly possessed visual depictions, namely, images and videos contained in computer graphics files, the production of which involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for Sept. 6, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of King.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's 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.
