WILMINGTON – In a shocking turn of events, a former Santa Claus and magician for kids’ parties has been found guilty of manufacturing child pornography. Leander Dewey Jones, 64, of Raleigh, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing child pornography in federal court yesterday.
Jones, who was employed to bring joy to children, was discovered producing child pornography of his two grandchildren while in his care. The disturbing case came to light on May 29, 2015, when a computer technician located a folder containing child pornography on Jones’s desktop computer during a repair in Raleigh. The technician alerted the store owner, who in turn contacted the Raleigh Police Department.
A state search warrant was obtained, and a subsequent computer forensics examination of items seized from Jones revealed approximately 4,000 images of child pornography on the computer and external hard drives. Further, on the CDs and floppy discs, approximately 1,000 images of child pornography were discovered.
At sentencing, scheduled for the court’s August 1, 2016 term, Jones faces up to 30 years imprisonment. The Raleigh Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the criminal investigation into the case. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan A. Ontjes is handling the prosecution on behalf of the Eastern District of North Carolina.
This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national project, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Jones’s actions are a stark reminder of the dangers of child exploitation and the importance of vigilance in protecting our children. The guilty plea and upcoming sentencing serve as a warning to those who would seek to harm innocent children.
The case highlights the need for continued cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the community to prevent such heinous crimes. As the investigation and prosecution of Jones demonstrate, child pornography is a serious crime that will not be tolerated.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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