Hawkins Man Guilty of Child Pornography Charges

TYLER, TX—U.S. Attorney Rebecca A. Gregory announced today that a 62-year-old Hawkins, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

HOWARD DALE CHANEY pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with possession of child pornography today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Guthrie.  

According to information presented in court, on Oct. 20, 2008, law enforcement agents executed a federal search warrant at Chaney's residence and seized several personal computers.  A forensic analysis of the computers' hard drives revealed more than 600 images of child pornography. 

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Chaney faces up to 20 years in federal prison.  A sentencing date has not been set.       

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Longview Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Baldwin.

 

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