“Fleshlight” Discovery leads to Spring Man’s Conviction on Three Child Pornography Charges

HOUSTON – A federal jury has convicted a 37-year-old Spring resident of distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before convicting Mark Adair following a two-day trial.

The jury heard that Adair had been uploading and downloading child pornography via peer-to-peer software. Authorities has executed a search warrant at his residence which resulted in the discovery of computer media and external digital storage devices. Forensic analysis revealed more than 26,000 child pornography images and 490 child pornography videos.  

At trial, the jury learned Adair was receiving child pornography and moving it from his computer to a thumb drive hours before authorities executed the search warrant. Adair had used peer-to-peer software on 30 separate days between December 2015 and February 2016 to receive and distribute child pornography images and videos.

The defense attempted to convince the jury there were other people in the home that could have been the source of the child pornography. However, the government presented evidence including photographs that demonstrated Adair lived alone.

Further, all the devices containing the child pornography were found in the living room. Three of the devices were located on the coffee table next to a tube of personal sexual lubricant. A sexual stimulation device known as a “fleshlight” was also fully visible, next to the sink. A “fleshlight” is a sexual stimulation device disguised as a flashlight but, when opened, reveals a rubber insert modeled after a vagina.

The jury heard arguments that had someone lived with anyone else, these items would likely not be out in the open for anyone to see.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison presided over the trial and set sentencing for Nov. 14, 2018. Adair has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

At that time, Adair faces a minimum of five and up to 20 year for the distribution and receipt of child pornography as well as a maximum of 10 years for the possession charge. Additionally, the charges are punishable by a $250,000 possible maximum fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Ann Bulger Leo and Sherri L. Zack are prosecuting the case, which 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 the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood 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 Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."