Guilty Verdict Against Man Caught with Pornographic Images of 4-Year-Old Stepdaughter

LEV L. DASSIN, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that yesterday, after a six-day jury trial before United States District Judge RICHARD J. SULLIVAN, WILLIAM DAVIS was found guilty of possessing, producing, and attempting to mail child pornography, as well as of possessing ammunition following a prior felony conviction.

According to the Indictment and the evidence at trial: The case began on January 4, 2007, when DAVIS was arrested at a motel in Ardsley, New York, in connection with a separate investigation by the Ardsley Police Department and the Westchester County Police Department. Pornographic images of the defendant’s then 4-year-old stepdaughter were found at that time inside DAVIS’s backpack, in sealed envelopes ready to be mailed. A subsequent search of DAVIS’s personal safe revealed a collection of hundreds of images of child pornography, some involving infants. Ammunition and a taser gun were also found.

DAVIS was charged with one count each of possession of child pornography, production of child pornography, and attempting to mail child pornography. In addition, because DAVIS had a prior felony conviction, he was charged with illegal possession of ammunition. DAVIS was found guilty on all counts.

DAVIS, 48, of New York, New York, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment on the charge of producing child pornography; a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 40 years for attempted mailing of child pornography; a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years for possession of child pornography; and a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment for possession of ammunition as a prior-convicted felon.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 24, 2009.

Mr. DASSIN praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ardsley Police Department, and the Westchester County Police Department in connection with the investigation and prosecution, and thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance.

Assistant United States Attorney AIMEE HECTOR is in charge of the prosecution.