Former Metro Investigator Charged with Federal Child Pornography Offenses
Las Vegas, Nev. - A Federal Grand Jury indicted a former Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) investigator today on charges that he transported, received and possessed child pornography, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.
DANIEL ROBERT PETERSON, age 55, of Las Vegas, a former crime scene investigator with the LVMPD, is charged with three counts of transporting child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. It is a violation of federal law to knowingly receive or possess child pornography that has been mailed, shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce by any means, including by computer.
The Indictment alleges that on or about February 18 and February 24, 2005, DANIEL ROBERT PETERSON knowingly mailed, transported and shipped child pornography in interstate commerce, including by computer, and that from a date unknown until September 29, 2005, he knowingly received and possessed materials that contained images of child pornography that had been mailed, shipped and transported in interstate commerce, including by computer.
If convicted, PETERSON faces a five-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each of the charges of transporting and receiving child pornography, and up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the charge of possessing child pornography. If convicted, he must also forfeit all visual depictions of child pornography and all items containing such visual depictions which he transported, shipped and received in violation of law.
An arrest warrant was issued for the defendant. An initial appearance hearing will be set before a United States Magistrate Judge following the defendant's arrest or surrender.
"Prosecuting crimes against the exploitable is a top prosecution priority for the United States Attorney's Office in the District of Nevada," said U.S. Attorney Bogden. "Between January 1, 2002, and September 30, 2005, 119 defendants were charged in the District of Nevada with crimes ranging from receipt and possession of child pornography, interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a juvenile, and using a computer to entice a juvenile to have sex. Most of those charged have been convicted and sentenced to significant periods of imprisonment."
This case is being investigated by the Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Its members include the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and FBI. ICAC TasK Forces are federally funded through the U.S. Department of Justice and are designed to help state and local law enforcement agencies develop an effective response to cyber enticement and child pornography cases. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nancy J. Koppe.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
