Ketchikan Man Charged with Possession of Child Pornography; Investigation Ongoing
February 11, 2017
Quoting public information released Friday by Deputy Chief of Police Josh Dosset, Ketchikan Police received information that Andy W. Cameron, age 25, was in possession of child pornography on his cell phone. Dosset said officers applied for and were granted a search warrant for Cameron and his residence.
Ketchikan Correctional Facility
Cameron was transported to the Ketchikan Correctional Facility and is being held without bail. Deputy Chief Dosset stated the investigation is ongoing and additional charges of Sexual Assault of a Minor and Unlawful Exploitation of a Minor are pending. Possession of child pornography is a class C felony in Alaska. It is important to note that an defendant can be prosecuted under state child pornography laws in addition to, or instead of, federal law. A Citizen's Guide to U.S. Federal Law on Child Pornography states that images of child pornography are not protected under First Amendment rights, and are illegal contraband under federal law. Section 2256 of Title 18, United States Code, defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor (someone under 18 years of age). Visual depictions include photographs, videos, digital or computer generated images indistinguishable from an actual minor, and images created, adapted, or modified, but appear to depict an identifiable, actual minor. Undeveloped film, undeveloped videotape, and electronically stored data that can be converted into a visual image of child pornography are also deemed illegal visual depictions under federal law. Notably, the legal definition of sexually explicit conduct does not require that an image depict a child engaging in sexual activity. A picture of a naked child may constitute illegal child pornography if it is sufficiently sexually suggestive. Additionally, the age of consent for sexual activity in a given state is irrelevant; any depiction of a minor under 18 years of age engaging in sexually explicit conduct is illegal. Charges are accusations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Reporting & Editing by Mary Kauffman, SitNews
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