GALVESTON, Texas – A local man has been arrested and charged with two serious crimes related to child pornography. Joseph Saunders, 34, of Brazoria, Texas, was taken into custody on two charges of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
The two-count indictment was returned under seal on March 11, 2015, and unsealed upon his arrest this afternoon. Saunders is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate John R. Froeshner in Galveston at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, at which time the government expects to request he be detained pending further criminal proceedings.
According to the indictment, Saunders is charged with one count each of receipt and possession of child pornography. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the receipt and a maximum of 10 years for the possessing of child pornography.
The investigation was conducted by the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Wirsing as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The public is reminded that an indictment is not a finding of guilt. Saunders is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly to protect the children of this community and bring those who commit heinous crimes to justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Joseph Lombardo, Child Pornography Possession, NY 2024 · Texas
- Joseph Kurowski, Possession of Child Pornography, NY 2023 · Texas
- Daniel Ramirez-Tobias, Receipt of Child Pornography, Texas 2023 · Arkansas
- Jesus Salvador Lara-Perez, Receipt of Child Pornography, Texas 2024 · Michigan
- Jimmy Gordon, Production of Child Pornography, Texas 2023 · Arkansas
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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