United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

KELLER, TEXAS, MAN SENTENCED TO THE MAXIMUM OF 70 YEARS ON
CHILD PORNOGRAPHY PRODUCTION AND POSSESSION CHARGES

Dickson Took Pornographic Photos of Baby Boy Entrusted to His Care

FORT WORTH, Texas — Bryan K. Dickson, 47, of Keller, Texas, (formerly of Arlington, Texas), who was convicted on one count each of production and possession of child pornography in June, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John McBryde to the maximum possible sentence of 840 months (70 years) in prison, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas.

During a bench trial on June 8, 2009, an agent of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) testified that during the execution of a search warrant at Dickson’s residence in June, Dickson directed them to a computer disk that contained numerous images of child pornography. He told the agents that he had been viewing child pornography since 2006. He admitted his urge to touch young boys, preferring four to five-year-olds. Dickson said that he fantasized about having sex with four-year-old males, and satisfied his urges by accessing child pornography and masturbating.

After ingratiating himself with a family in 2007, Dickson volunteered to babysit their young sons. During the search, agents found four pornographic images of the family’s one-year old son on Dickson’s digital camera.

“The production and possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime,” said U.S. Attorney Jacks. “ The sentence in this case is reflective of the harm that is inflicted on the most vulnerable members of our society, our children. Hopefully, it will get the attention of and serve as a deterrent to anyone else considering engaging in such activity.”

“This significant sentence demonstrates how destructive Dickson has been in society by producing and possessing child pornography,” said John Chakwin Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Dallas. “Although we cannot undo the damage he’s done to his innocent victims, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring these child pornographers to justice.” Chakwin oversees 128 counties in north Texas and the State of Oklahoma.

In 1988, Dickson was convicted in New Jersey for sexual assault of a child. Evidence was presented during the detention hearing that Dickson had been searching for babysitting jobs in the Dallas/Fort Worth area when he was arrested in March 2009. Most recently, Dickson worked in Dallas at a Chick-fil-A restaurant, at the Dallas Zoo, and in Grapevine, Texas, at the Great Wolf Lodge. He has been in federal custody since his arrest.

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

The case was investigated by ICE and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis prosecuted the case.

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