Jury Convicts Cincinnati Man of Producing Child Pornography
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 16, 2014 |
CINCINNATI—A U.S. District Court jury today convicted James O. Napier, 39, of Cincinnati of producing child pornography involving an 11-month-old infant and an approximately 9-year-old child and placing the videos and images on the internet.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Kevin Cornelius, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and agencies in the Greater Cincinnati Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the verdict returned today following a trial that began January 13 before Chief U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott.
Trial testimony showed 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. Other testimony showed that as recently as November 2012, Napier sexually exploited a girl who was approximately 9 years old and produced videos of those acts.
FBI agents began investigating Napier based on information from the FBI Office in Phoenix that Napier was advertising the sale of child pornography on a website. FBI agents arrested Napier on January 18, 2013. He has been held without bond.
After less than one hour of deliberation, the jury convicted Napier of nine counts of production of child pornography, each punishable by at least 15 and up to 30 years in prison. The jury also convicted Napier of one count each of transportation of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and receipt of child pornography. Each of those crimes is punishable by at least five years and up to 20 years in prison. Judge Dlott will schedule a date for sentencing.
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.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Stewart commended the investigation by FBI agents and investigators with the Greater Cincinnati ICAC, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christy Muncy and Ben Glassman, who are prosecuting the 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.