Evansville man sentenced in child pornography case

Defendant abducted a nine year old boy playing near his home

PRESS RELEASE

Evansville – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today the sentencing of an Evansville man for possession and distribution of child pornography. Jack Perkins III, 30, was sentenced to five years in federal prison by Chief U. S. District Judge Richard L. Young.

“Protecting our innocent children from internet predators will remain a top priority of our office,” said Minkler. “Producing and distributing child pornography re-victimizes our children every time it is passed from one person to another.”

On January 31, 2012, the Evansville Police Department responded to an emergency call placed by the mother of a nine year old boy who was forcibly pulled into a car and taken away while playing outside with a friend. While patrol officers were at the scene of the abduction, the missing boy came running back home through an alley. The boy was partially clothed and obviously in distress. Before being transported to the hospital, the boy reported that he had been pulled into a car by an adult male and driven a short distance away from his family's residence in the Jacobsville neighborhood in Evansville. After parking the car, the boy reported the adult male climbed into the back seat and sexually assaulted him. The boy escaped from the car and ran home where EPD officers were beginning to investigate his disappearance. 

Based on the description of the suspect vehicle and tips received after media reports of the crime, Jack Perkins III, was identified as the lead suspect in the case. On February 1, 2012, Perkins was located in his apartment on West Florida Street in Evansville. Perkins' vehicle was parked outside his apartment. During an interview with police, Perkins admitted that he sexually assaulted the nine year old boy.

Officers later found child pornography on Perkins’ computer and data storage discs in the apartment.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Todd Shellenbarger, who prosecuted this case for the government, Perkins will serve his federal sentence consecutive to the 45 years he is serving for the sexual assault and abduction.

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 Office 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 "resource.”

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