Press Release
FBI Arrests Round Rock Pastor for Child Pornography
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas
AUSTIN – A Georgetown man was arrested yesterday on criminal charges related to child pornography.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Austin federal court, David Lloyd Walther, 56, is accused of knowingly searching for, downloading, distributing and possessing child pornography. The criminal complaint alleges that Walther downloaded and made available child pornography using BitTorrent, a peer-to-peer file sharing network. At the time, Walther was pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Round Rock, Texas.
During a search of Walther’s home and vehicle, two large computer hard drives were located and found to contain child pornography.
Walther is charged with distribution, receipt, transportation and possession of child pornography. If convicted, Walther faces up to 20 years in prison. Walther made his initial appearance today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Austin. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich, Jr., made the announcement.
The FBI San Antonio Division's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with invaluable assistance from the Round Rock Police Department, is investigating the case. The FBI also appreciates the assistance received by the Williamson County Sheriff's Office and the Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Devlin is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Updated November 10, 2022
Topic
Project Safe Childhood
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