Press Release
Grand Jury Indicts Shoshone Man For Producing, Viewing And Transporting Child Pornography
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Idaho
BOISE - William Roger Wilkinson, 53, of Shoshone, Idaho, was indicted August 12, 2014, by a federal grand jury for two counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of access with intent to view child pornography, and one count of transportation of child pornography in interstate commerce, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. He made his initial appearance on the charges today, where he entered a not guilty plea. Trial is set for November 4, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.
The indictment alleges that on November 3, 2012, and again on December 9, 2012, Wilkinson knowingly used, persuaded, induced, enticed or coerced an eight-year-old child to take part in sexually explicit conduct and produced visual depictions of that conduct. The indictment also alleges that between June and October 2013, Wilkinson knowingly accessed with intent to view one or more visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Last, the indictment alleges that between November 1 and November 12, 2013, Wilkinson transported child pornography images depicting sexually explicit conduct involving eleven separate minors in interstate commerce. The indictment also calls for the forfeiture of real and personal property associated with the offenses.
The combined charges of sexual exploitation of children, accessing with intent to view child pornography and transportation of child pornography are punishable by up to 90 years in prison, a maximum fine of $750,000, and at least 5 years up to lifetime of supervised release. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Idaho and Utah, and the Lincoln County, Idaho, Sheriff’s Department.
An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity. It is not evidence. The person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Updated December 15, 2014
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