By John A. Winters
The The Newnan Times-Herald
NEWMAN, Ga. — A Newnan man has been indicted on federal charges for distributing child pornography, according to the United States Attorney’s office.
Justin Corley, 32, was charged with one count of distributing child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography. A federal grand jury charged Corley in an indictment issued Dec. 4. An Atlanta man also was indicted on similar charges in a separate case.
“Child pornography preys on the most innocent and defenseless members of society,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates, for the Northern Georgia District. “These men are charged with contributing to the victimization of those children by receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet. The prosecution of these two cases reflects our continued commitment to end this cycle of victimization.”
According to Yates, in January, Corley was working as a firefighter in Union City, and was logged on to the Internet through the fire station’s Internet service. Law enforcement officials discovered Corley had a file-sharing program open where he allegedly was offering to share images of child pornography to like-minded individuals. A search warrant executed in February revealed that he had not only distributed child pornography, but had received and possessed it as well.
The charges of distributing and receiving child pornography each carry a mandatory minimum confinement period of 5 years and a maximum term of 30 years in prison. The charge of possessing child pornography carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Each charge carries a fine of up to $250,000 and a period of supervised release from five years to life, according to a press release.
Yates said the indictments only contain charges. Each defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
These cases are being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children.
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