Home Columbia Press Releases 2010 Catawba Man Indicted on Child Pornography Charges
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Catawba Man Indicted on Child Pornography Charges

U.S. Attorney’s Office August 03, 2010
  • District of South Carolina (803) 929-3000

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Ronald McAteer, age 42, of Catawba, was charged in two-count Indictment with possession and distribution of child pornography, in violation of 18 USC 2252A(a)(5)(B) and 2252A(a)(1).

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles stated the maximum penalty Ronald McAteer could receive on the distribution count is a fine of $250,000 and/or five to 20 years’ imprisonment. The possession count carries a maximum fine of $250,000 and/or 10 years’ imprisonment.

Mr. Nettles stated that the case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney Dean A. Eichelberger of the Columbia office for prosecution.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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