CLANTON MAN DETAINED ON CHARGES OF DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

MONTGOMERY, Ala.— A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Alabama has returned an indictment charging Jerry Alan Penton, age 36, of Clanton, Alabama, with distribution of child pornography to a minor in order to groom the minor to commit a sex act, as well as possession, distribution, and receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Leura G. Canary announced today.

The indictment, returned on August 15, 2007, charges Penton with one count of distributing child pornography to induce a child to commit a crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(6), one count of knowingly receiving or distributing child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2)(A), and one count of knowingly possessing child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(5)(B).

Penton was arrested on August 22, 2007, and was temporarily detained pending the outcome of a series of hearings. On Monday afternoon, September 24, 2007, U.S. District Judge W. Keith Watkins ordered that Penton be detained pending his November 5, 2007 trial on the charges of the indictment..

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In May 2006, the Department of Justice launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

U.S. Attorney Canary stated, “This is the twenty-eighth child pornography case pursued by our office since our PROTECT Task Force was formed. In addition, we have also prosecuted other child exploitation cases, including sex tourism, enticement and molestation. Our office is partnering with federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutors to prosecute and incarcerate child pornographers and other offenders who pose a threat to our children. We are striving to make communities safer for children.”

Penton faces a minimum sentence of imprisonment of not less than five years, and up to twenty years if convicted.

Penton’s case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher A. Snyder.

An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.