JOHNSON COUNTY MAN CHARGED IN CHILD PORN CASE

FORT WORTH, Texas - Joe McDonald, of Cleburne, Texas, has been charged in a federal indictment with one count each of receipt and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. McDonald, 47, who was in state custody on related charges in Johnson County, appeared this morning for his arraignment before U.S. District Judge John McBryde in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth. McDonald entered a not guilty plea and Judge McBryde ordered that he remain in custody pending a trial date of February 19, 2008.

According to the indictment, in July 2007, Joe McDonald possessed five still images from the Internet of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. All of the images involved males, including sexual contact between an adult male and an infant male child.

The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation which, upon conviction, will require McDonald to forfeit property, including three laptop computers, digital cameras and hard disk drives used to commit his offenses.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted on all counts, Joe McDonald faces a maximum statutory sentence of 30 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov

U.S. Attorney Roper commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Fort Worth Police Department and the Cleburne Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis.