TYLER, Texas – A 51-year-old Longview, Texas man has pleaded guilty to child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
 
Mitchell Duane Porter pleaded guilty to production of child pornography on Jan. 11, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie.

According to information presented in court, on Aug. 26, 2011, a federal search warrant was executed at Porter's residence on Smelley Road in Longview.  Several computers, cameras, and other forms of digital media and media storage devices were seized during the search.  A forensic analysis of the seized items revealed over a thousand images of child pornography with approximately 8 of those photos taken by Porter.  Some of the images depicted prepubescent children under the age of 12 years engaged to sexually explicit conduct, and some of the images involved the actual commission of a sexual act.  A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Sep. 21, 2011, charging Porter with federal violations.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.
Porter faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Harrison County Sheriff's Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Tortorice.

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