Canadian Man Charged with Production of Child Pornography in Ohio
A Canadian man has been charged with production of child pornography in Ohio after meeting a teenager at a park in Rocky River, prosecutors said. Joseph B. Haggerty, 49, was scheduled to be in court on Monday afternoon.
Haggerty was arrested after Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Austin, Texas, received a tip that he had been soliciting nude images from children. He was scheduled to fly to Cleveland from Toronto on Thursday, but HSI agents in Cleveland followed him to Linden Park in Rocky River, where he met a minor female, according to a criminal affidavit.
The minor told agents that she met Haggerty on Kik in December 2016 and they subsequently communicated via Skype. She said the calls would last hours and Haggerty would direct her to strip naked and engage in sexually explicit conduct, according to the affidavit.
Haggerty had a reservation at the Days Inn on Lake Avenue in Lakewood and was carrying a bag with clothing, 12 condoms, a stuffed animal, and a package of baby pacifiers, according to the affidavit. The minor told her relatives that she was going on a camping trip for the weekend but actually planned to go to the Lakewood hotel with Haggerty, according to the affidavit.
HSI agents contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit, which executed search warrants at Haggerty’s home. They found nude images of the Ohio minor, contact information for the child in Texas, as well as evidence of an estimated five other potential victims.
“This defendant victimized at least one child and possibly many more,” said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja. “This case is another stark reminder to parents that they need to know who their children are communicating with on social media and in real life.”
Haggerty is charged with production of child pornography. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations.
The case was investigated by HSI’s Cleveland and Austin offices, with assistance from the Rocky River Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McDonough.
A charge is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Haggerty’s exact sentence or outcome is not yet available.
This case is another example of the importance of online safety and the need for parents to be aware of their children’s online activities.
Haggerty is currently in custody.
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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