Former College Professor Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography

CINCINNATI – Holt Parker, 59, of Cincinnati pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here today to one count of possession of child pornography, admitting that he attempted to destroy a thumb drive containing nearly 1,000 video files, the majority of which depicted child pornography that he had downloaded from the Internet. 

Benjamin C. Glassman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Field Division announced the plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.

According to court documents, FBI agents executed a search warrant at his home in the Clifton neighborhood on March 15, 2016. Agents seized a laptop computer and a damaged thumb drive. Parker told agents that when he realized law enforcement officers were searching his house, he attempted to destroy the thumb drive because he had recently downloaded hundreds of images and videos of child pornography. Forensic analysis confirmed that the drive contained video files and images, including an image of an infant.

The plea agreement concludes that an appropriate sentence would be a prison term of at least 36 months but no more than 96 months. The agreement also asks the court to impose a $5,000 special assessment, a fine, restitution and a term of supervised release as determined by the court.

“Child pornography is dangerous contraband, and possessing it is a serious crime. Prosecuting cases like this reflects our commitment to using all the tools at our disposal to protect the most vulnerable,” Acting U.S. Attorney Glassman said.

Judge Black will schedule sentencing following an investigation by the court. Parker, a former University of Cincinnati professor, remains free on bond, but is prohibited from having any access to computers or children.

Acting U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the FBI and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Healey, who is representing the United States in this case.