Contact Person: Lance Crick (864) 282-2100
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Christopher Taggart, age 56, of Fountain Inn, pled guilty today in federal court in Anderson, to possession of child pornography, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A. United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain of Anderson 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 law enforcement received a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited that Taggart had attempted to download two images that contained child pornography. Taggart was approached by law enforcement and his computer was searched. A forensic exam of his computer revealed 136 images and two videos of child pornography.
Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty Taggart can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 20 years, plus a special assessment of $100.
The case was investigated by agents of U.S. Postal Inspection Service. 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.
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