Colonie Man Charged with Sexually Exploiting a Child

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Douglas Fountain, age 29, of Colonie, New York, was ordered detained yesterday after being charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and transporting child pornography over the internet.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Kevin M. Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

A criminal complaint filed against Fountain alleges that he took sexually explicit photographs of a child and posted them on a website where other members of the site could view the photographs.  The charges in the complaint are merely accusations.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

If convicted, Fountain faces at least 20 years and up to 50 years in prison, mandatory registration as a sex offender, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. 

This case is being investigated by HSI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Giglio Suarez. 

This case is prosecuted 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 about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.