Easley Man Pleads Guilty To Child Porn

United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Jackie Dean Barnes, age 44, of Easley, pled guilty today in federal court in Greenville, to possession of child pornography, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A.   

United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain of Greenville accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.       

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on October 27, 2011, law enforcement conducted an on-line Internet investigation to identify individuals possessing and sharing child pornography using a publically available  peer-to-peer file sharing program. 

Agents identified a user sharing several hundred files that had names associated with child pornography. 

Two files were downloaded and were indeed child pornography.       

Further investigation revealed that the computer sharing the files was located in Easley, South Carolina. 

On December 5, 2011, a search warrant was obtained for Barnes’ home address. 

During the execution of the warrant, agents located a laptop computer in the bedroom occupied by Barnes.  A forensic examination of the computer revealed multiple images of child pornography.       

Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty Barnes can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 10 years, plus a special assessment of $100.       

The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Investigations. 

Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.       

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.