Press Release
Local Man Sentenced For Possessing Child Pornography
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Christopher Lee, 41, of Corpus Christi, has been ordered to federal prison for possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Lee pleaded guilty March 3, 2014.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos considered the need to protect the public and deter future criminal conduct and ordered Lee serve a total sentence of 70 months in prison. He will also serve 10 years of supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the Internet . He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
On March July 28, 2013, the Corpus Christi Police Department (CCPD) responded to a domestic disturbance call at a motel in Corpus Christi. The victim claimed her boyfriend, Lee, had assaulted her. She further alleged Lee had been viewing child pornography on his cell phone earlier that day. She described images of nude girls between the ages of seven and nine as well as a video of an adult male sexually assaulting a six-month old female infant.
Lee later contacted the police in an effort to obtain reports related to the assault and on Aug. 7, 2013, he came to the police station to pick up the assault reports. At that time, he provided consent for officers to search his cell phone, which resulted in the discovery of child pornography. A forensic examination identified numerous child pornography and child erotica images.
Lee later admitted to downloading, viewing and saving the child pornography on his phone.
Lee will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
HSI and CCPD – Internet Crimes Against Children task force investigated.
This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Duke, 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 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."
Updated April 30, 2015
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