Littleton Man Charged with Distribution of Child Pornography

DENVER—Calvin Dawdy, age 51, of Littleton, Colorado, was arrested last week after being indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of distribution and possession of child pornography, United States Attorney John Walsh and FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge James Yacone announced. Dawdy appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge late last week, where he was advised of the charges pending against him. He appeared in U.S. District Court this morning, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Kristen L. Mix released him on a $5,000 unsecured bond. The defendant was also arraigned on the indictment.

The indictment, which was returned by the grand jury on November 8, 2012, alleges that Dawdy knowingly distributed child pornography that has been shipped or transported in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce by any means, including by computer, in February 2010 as well as in September 2010. Additionally, Dawdy was charged with possessing any computer disk or other material that contained child pornography that has been shipped or transported in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce by any means, including by computer, in December 2010.

The indictment also includes an asset forfeiture allegation, which states that upon conviction, Dawdy shall forfeit any and all of his rights, title, and interest in the child pornography images, the computer containing child pornography, and any other real or personal property used or intended to be used to commit or promote the commission of the offenses alleged in the indictment.

If convicted of the two counts of distribution of child pornography, Dawdy faces not less than five years and not more than 20 years in federal prison, as well as a $250,000 fine per count. If convicted of possession of child pornography, Dawdy faces not more than 10 years’ imprisonment.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Innocent Images Task Force.

Dawdy is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alecia Riewerts Wolak.

The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab “Resources.”