Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Images Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of Children

Roger Brent Churchwell, age 38, a resident of Vero Beach, Florida, plead guilty as charged today before U.S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan, after previously being charged with receiving images depicting the sexual victimization of children, announced U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente.

According to court documents, during the summer of 2012, Churchwell resided in New Orleans, Louisiana. During the early morning hours of September 16, 2012, Churchwell entered the Old Point Bar, located in Algiers, Louisiana. When he left the bar approximately one hour later, he left his iPhone in the bathroom. A patron found the phone and, in an attempt to identify to whom it belonged, looked at photographs on the phone. The patron saw images of child pornography, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified. After obtaining a search warrant, agents conducting a forensic examination found more than 300 images depicting children as young as 3 years old engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Churchwell faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, followed by up to a life term of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. He can also be required to register as a sex offender. Sentencing has been scheduled for December 4, 2013, before Judge Berrigan.

This case is being investigated by special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg.