Man pleads guilty to child pornography
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on September 13, 2009 2:00 AM
A Selma man has pleaded guilty in federal court to manufacturing child pornography.
Larry Donnell Parks Jr., 33, pleaded guilty in U.S. District. He had been indicted by a federal grand jury in May.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, in November 2007, a family member discovered a home-made videotape of a child performing various sexual activities. The family member then notified law enforcement and turned over the videotape and gave consent to law enforcement to search the defendant's residence for additional tapes.
During their search, officers found video cameras set-up in two rooms of the house. Other videos were found in the house containing footage of the child performing sexual activities at the direction of Parks.
Sentencing has yet to be handed down.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the FBI and the Selma Police Department.
The case is part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level.
For more information about the project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
U.S. Attorney George E.B. Holding said in a statement that his agency is dedicated to enforcing child protection laws.
"Child pornography is devastating to families and I am saddened and concerned when such circumstances occur. This office is committed to the prosecution of those who commit such heinous crimes. The immediate action of the family member is admirable and I commend the bravery of that family member and that of the child."