Criminal Defense News

Cyber Crimes Unit Arrests Vernon, Texas Man Following Indictment On Child Pornography Charges

Wichita Falls, Texas - Attorney General Greg Abbott’s Cyber Crimes Unit arrested 30-year-old Jason Brian Anthony, of Vernon, after a Wilbarger County grand jury indicted him on child pornography charges. Assistant Attorney General Angela Goodwin presented the case to the grand jury Thursday after the Cyber Crimes Unit discovered more than 600 sexually explicit images and video of children on Anthony’s computer equipment.

“Texans will not tolerate criminals who exploit our children,” said Attorney General Abbott. “The Cyber Crimes Unit will continue its aggressive crackdown of insidious predators who possess and promote child pornography. We are grateful to Wilbarger County District Attorney Staley Heatly’s office and the New York State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for helping us bring this man to justice.”T

he case against Anthony began with a cybertip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which referred the tip to the New York State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. New York authorities then referred the case to the Office of the Attorney General after discovering the computer account was located in Vernon, Texas.

A forensic examination of Anthony’s computer and external media conducted by the Cyber Crimes Unit revealed files containing child pornography. On Feb. 8, he was indicted on 13 counts of possession and one count of promotion of child pornography. The Wilbarger County District Attorney’s office assisted the Cyber Crimes Unit with Anthony’s arrest.

Possession of child pornography is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Promotion is a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Attorney General Abbott has earned a national reputation for arresting and prosecuting online child predators. Shortly after taking office, he created the Cyber Crimes Unit, which targets online predators by assuming the identities of young teenagers in Internet chat rooms. Investigators have arrested 92 men who used teen chat rooms to arrange meetings with underage victims. In addition, Cyber Crimes Unit prosecutors have obtained convictions against 56 men on child pornography charges.

In May 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded the Cyber Crimes Unit a $300,000 grant that funded an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The grant enabled the Unit to increase cooperative efforts with law enforcement agencies across Texas and to expand the Unit’s online child exploitation crackdown.

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	Did You Know?
	There are 3 basic types with standard of proof There are essentially three standards of proof applicable in most court proceedings. In criminal and delinquency cases, the offense must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest standard. In civil cases and neglect and dependency proceedings, the lowest standard applies by a mere preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not). In some civil cases, and in juvenile proceedings such a permanent termination of parental rights, an intermediate standard applies: proof by clear and convincing evidence.