Meadows Place Resident Detained on Child Pornography Charges

HOUSTON—William Butler Myers, 41, has been detained on allegations of production of child pornography, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.

At a hearing held this morning, U.S. Magistrate Judge Francis Stacy found probable cause that Myers, of Meadow Place, committed the crime of producing child pornography and that he is a flight risk and danger to the community.

Officers with the Meadows Place Police Department arrested Myers on Friday, May 31, 2013, and a criminal complaint was filed in federal court on Monday, June 3.

The arrest came as the result of evidence found on a cell phone Myers took in for service. A cell phone repair shop employee notified law enforcement that he had found what he thought were images of child pornography on Myers’ phone. Law enforcement reviewed the images and obtained a warrant for Myers residence in Meadows Place, at which time agents seized several items, including computers.

Law enforcement has identified at least one alleged victim in relation to this case.

If convicted, Myers faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 and up to 30 years for producing child pornography as well as a possible $250,000 fine. Additionally, he could face a maximum of life on supervised release during which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect the children and prohibit the use of the Internet.

The allegations against Myers are the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Innocent Images Unit of the Houston FBI, including members of the Houston Police Department, which focuses its attention on investigating offenses involving the exploitation of children.

This case 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.”

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.