Oregon Man Sentenced To Ninety-Seven Months For Child Pornography

SAN JOSE – John William Harrison was sentenced yesterday to more than 8 years in prison for possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Clark E. Settles.

Harrison pleaded guilty on July 24, 2013, to one count of possession of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252. According to the plea agreement, Harrison admitted to engaging in multiple on-line conversations from his home in Portland, Ore., with a person he believed was the father of a seven-year old girl living in San Jose, Calif. The person posing as a father was really a special agent with the Department of Homeland Security working in an undercover capacity. During these conversations Harrison indicated he had over 600 still images and at least 75 videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Harrison also admitted that at least one of the videos contained footage of a child being subjected to sadomasochistic behavior and that most of the images found on his computer involved pre-pubescent minors under the age of 12. Finally, he admitted that he sent all of these digital files to the undercover agent in San Jose using both his Yahoo email account and the U.S. Mail.

Harrison, 45, of Portland, was arrested pursuant to a felony complaint on May 8, 2013, and arraigned in front of a United States Magistrate Judge in Portland on May 9, 2013. He was charged initially with distribution of child pornography. After making his first appearance in San Jose on May 23, 2013, Harrison agreed to waive indictment by a grand jury and was charged by Information with possession and distribution of child pornography on June 7, 2013.

The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Lucy H. Koh, United States District Court Judge, following the guilty plea. Judge Koh also sentenced the defendant to a 5-year period of supervised release. Harrison will also be required to register as a sex offender. The defendant was in custody at the time of sentencing and began serving his sentence immediately.

Amie D. Rooney is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Tracey Andersen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in conjunction with the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children SAFE Task Force.

(Harrison information )