Greenville Man Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Charges

Contact Person: Lance Crick (864) 282-2100
 

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Alton Davis, age 47, of Greenville, pled guilty yesterday in federal court in Greenville, to possession of child pornography, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A. United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks of Charleston accepted the plea and will impose sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on October 14, 2015, an undercover officer downloaded from defendant two child porn images using peer-to-peer software. Based on this download, law enforcement determined his IP address, street address, and obtained a search warrant.
 

On November 10, 2015, the warrant was executed at Defendant’s home. He was present and agreed to talk. He admitted to using his computer and the internet to search for pornography and using search terms associated with child pornography. He admitted to viewing images of child porn on his computer.
 

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty Davis can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 20 years, plus a special assessment of $100. He is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years because of a prior child pornography conviction.
 

The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.
 

This case was 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. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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