Cincinnati Man Charged with 20 Counts of Producing Child Pornography

CINCINNATI—A federal grand jury has charged James O. Napier, 38, of Cincinnati with 20 counts of producing child pornography which involve an 11-month old infant and an approximately 9-year-old child, produced at different times.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Edward J. Hanko, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and agencies in the Greater Cincinnati Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the indictment returned today.

The indictment alleges that in November 2009, Napier used an 11-month-old infant for sexual gratification, molested the infant, and made a video recording of it before placing it on the Internet. The indictment contains 19 counts alleging that as recently as November 2012, Napier sexually exploited a girl who was approximately 9 years old and produced videos of those acts. The indictment also charges Napier with one count each of transportation, distribution, and receipt of child pornography.

FBI agents arrested Napier on January 18 based on a complaint filed in U.S. District Court. The complaint was based on information from the FBI office in Phoenix that Napier was advertising the sale of child pornography on a website. Napier is being held without bond.

“Production of child pornography is punishable by at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison,” U.S. Attorney Stewart said. “Each of the other crimes is punishable by at least five and up to 20 years in prison. The investigation is continuing in case there are other victims.”

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Stewart commended the investigation by FBI agents and investigators with the Greater Cincinnati ICAC, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Muncy who is representing the United States in this case.

Agencies participating in the Greater Cincinnati ICAC, in addition to FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office include the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters, Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil, and the police departments in Amberley Village, Blue Ash, Cincinnati, and West Chester.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.