San Angelo Man Arrested on Several Federal Child Pornography, Child Obscenity, and Child Enticement Charges

SAN ANGELO, TX—William Ray Nobles, 32, of San Angelo, Texas, was arrested this morning by federal agents on several felony charges outlined in a federal indictment returned by a grand jury in Lubbock earlier this week, and unsealed today, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Agents with the FBI arrested Nobles following the execution of a search warrant at his home.  Nobles appeared Thursday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Philip R. Lane, for his initial appearance

The six-count indictment charges Nobles with two counts of production of child pornography, one count of enticement of a child, one count of attempted receipt of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and two counts of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. 

The indictment alleges that in 2009, Nobles enticed a person he believed to be a 13-year-old female child, who was actually a law enforcement officer, to engage in sexually explicit conduct. It also alleges that he sent a live webcam transmission via the Internet of obscene matter to an undercover law enforcement agent, believing the agent to be a minor female under age 16.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. If convicted, however, the maximum statutory sentence for production of child pornography is not less than 15 or more than 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, per count. The maximum statutory sentence for enticement of a child is not less than 10 years in prison, and up to life, and a $250,000 fine. The maximum statutory sentence for attempted receipt of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct is not less than five or more than 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum statutory sentence for attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, per count, upon conviction. 

This case 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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.projectsafechildhood.gov

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the San Angelo, Texas, Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Sucsy of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office, is in charge of the prosecution.