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Photographer Charged with Child Pornography
A Vermont man has been charged with possessing child pornography, including images of a prepubescent child.
John Penwarden, a professional photographer from Orwell, Vermont, was indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of Child Pornography. The indictment includes at least one depiction involving a prepubescent child or a child not yet twelve years old.
Penwarden appeared in District Court in Burlington on [no date] and entered a plea of not guilty to the sole count of the indictment.
According to the Addison County affidavit submitted on May 8, 2015, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the defendant’s home in December 2014, following reports by a then-thirteen year old victim that the defendant had committed repeated sexual contact offenses with her beginning when she was eight or nine years old, including taking pornographic pictures of the victim.
Of the 76 sexually explicit images discovered on the defendant’s computer and electronic hardware, approximately 50 appeared to be sexually explicit depictions of the reporting victim.
If convicted, Penwarden faces up to twenty years of imprisonment. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The case was assigned to United States District Court Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford in Rutland, Vermont.
The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.
The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abigail Averbach. John Penwarden is represented by Jordana Levine, Esq. Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, has agreed to assist the Vermont State Police and spearhead further investigation.
Defendant: John Penwarden
Criminal Charges: Possession of Child Pornography
City and State: Orwell, Vermont
Date: December 2014
Sentence: Up to 20 years in prison
Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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