Former Part-Time Coach Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

BIRMINGHAM—A former part-time middle school coach in Hoover pleaded guilty today in federal court to receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick Maley.

JAMES EDWARD CORBITT, 34, of Hoover, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor. A sentencing date has not been set.

"Cases such as this remind us that we must always be aware of who our children spend time with and we must question how that time is spent, even with people we believe are to be trusted," Vance said. "Unfortunately, it is not unusual for someone with unsavory interests in children to place themselves in a setting where children surround them," she said.

"We vigorously prosecute child pornography cases because our children deserve to be protected," Vance said. "Anyone who views and shares child pornography perpetuates an industry that survives off the abuse and vile treatment of children."

A federal grand jury indicted CORBITT on the child pornography charges in April. In his plea agreement with the government, CORBITT admits he received, possessed, and distributed images of child pornography using a peer-to-peer file sharing program on his home computer. He admitted sharing thousands of pictures of nude children and children involved in sexual activity, most of them between 9 and 14 years old, according to the plea agreement.

CORBITT also acknowledged in his plea agreement that he had used a hidden pen camera and secretly filmed two minor boys entering and exiting the shower at his apartment. Those videos were uploaded and added to his shared folder on the file sharing network.

The FBI examination of CORBITT's computer found more than 20,000 images of suspected child pornography, according to the plea agreement.

The charges of receiving and distributing child pornography both carry prison sentences of five to 20 years. The charge of possessing child pornography carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. All the charges carry a maximum $250,000 fine.

CORBITT had worked as a part-time coach at Bumpus Middle School in Hoover for about nine years, but was not coaching for the school at the time of his March 31 arrest.

The FBI investigated this case, with support from the Hoover Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Anne Gallagher is prosecuting it.