Newtown Man Charged with Producing Child Pornography

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven has returned an indictment charging Edward F. Wilson, 28, of Newtown, with one count of production of child pornography, one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. The indictment was returned on August 9, 2012, and was unsealed today during Wilson’s arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Thomas P. Smith in Hartford.

The indictment alleges that, in approximately 2011 and 2012, Wilson sexually abused a female child, filmed and photographed the abuse, and maintained the videos and images on his home computer. The victim was approximately four years old at the time of the abuse.

In addition to filming, photographing, and maintaining videos and images of the sexual abuse that he inflicted on the female child, it is alleged that Wilson downloaded and traded via e-mail hundreds of other images and videos of child pornography. It is alleged that he maintained his collection of child pornography in his online e-mail account and on his home computers.

If convicted of the charge of production of child pornography, Wilson faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. The charge of receipt and distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Wilson has been detained in state custody since his arrest on April 13, 2012, for first-degree possession of child pornography, obscenity, and promoting a minor in an obscene performance. On July 10, 2012, he was arrested on 22 additional state charges, including six counts of first-degree sexual assault, five counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, and 11 counts of risk of injury.

U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the Newtown Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Neeraj Patel.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, and the District of Connecticut’s Operation Constant Vigilance, which are aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.