Scott Stephen Howard, Possession of Child Pornography, California 2016

Yuba City Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Scott Stephen Howard, 36, of Yuba City, pleaded guilty today to possession of child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on April 11, 2016, Howard knowingly possessed visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea J. Kenny is prosecuting the case.

Howard is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on June 29. Howard faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison as well as a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

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

As part of the project, federal, state, and local resources are marshaled to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

The exact details of the case against Howard include the following: Defendant/Respondent: Scott Stephen Howard, Crime: Possession of Child Pornography, City and State: Yuba City, California, Exact Date: April 11, 2016, Sentence or Outcome: Scheduled sentencing on June 29 with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The community is reminded that the production, distribution, and possession of child pornography is a serious crime that carries severe penalties. If you or someone you know is a victim of child sexual exploitation, please seek help immediately.

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