Eric Blaine Lusk, Child Pornography, North Carolina 2013

GREENSBORO, N.C. – A disturbing case of child exploitation has come to light as Eric Blaine Lusk, a 42-year-old photographer from Elkin, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and production of obscenity.

Lusk, who worked as a professional photographer for youth sporting events, took close-up photographs of the pubic area of members of a girls’ swim team while they were wearing swimsuits. The photographs were then anonymously distributed through file-sharing networks, labeled with names associated with child pornography. By doing so, the photographs came up as search results for persons seeking child pornography on file-sharing networks.

However, it’s essential to note that none of the members of the swim team was photographed nude or in sexual activity. Lusk’s actions with the girls’ swim team photographs are the basis of the obscenity charge. When the distribution of the swim team photographs was traced back to Lusk, a search of his computers showed he possessed child pornography independent of any photographs he had taken.

Lusk faces a maximum sentence of up to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of five years to life. He was released pending his sentencing on August 29, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. in Winston-Salem.

The case was investigated by members of the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, including the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office, Elkin Police Department, and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anand P. Ramaswamy.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Eric Blaine Lusk, Real full name: Eric Blaine Lusk, Exact criminal charges: Possession of child pornography and production of obscenity, City and state: Elkin, North Carolina, Exact date: Not specified, Sentence or outcome: Released pending sentencing on August 29, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. in Winston-Salem, Dollar amounts: Up to $250,000 fine.

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