Armstrong County Man Admits Possessing Child Pornography
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 26, 2011 |
PITTSBURGH. PA—A resident of Armstrong County, Pa., pleaded guilty in federal court on Oct. 21, 2011, to a charge of possession of child pornography, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Joseph Andrew Davis, 42, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about May 5, 2009, Davis knowingly possessed visual depictions, namely, images and videos contained in computer graphics files, the production of which involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for Feb. 17, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Davis.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.