Brazoria Man Arrested On Child Pornography Charges

GALVESTON, Texas – Joseph Saunders, 34, of Brazoria, has been arrested on two charges related to child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

The two-count indictment was returned under seal March 11, 2015, and unsealed upon his arrest this afternoon. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate John R. Froeshner in Galveston at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, at which time the government expects to request he be detained pending further criminal proceedings.

Saunders is charged with one count each of receipt and possession of child pornography. 

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the receipt and a maximum of 10 years for the possessing of child pornography.

The investigation was conducted by the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations.

This case, being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Wirsing, is being 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 Attorneys' 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."