Atlanta, Tx Man Sentenced In Child Porn Case

United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced Tuesday that a 56-year-old Atlanta, Texas man has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas. CHARLES E. HARRIST, JR. was sentenced by United States District Judge John Ward. According to information presented in court, Harrist, a former newspaper editor, possessed a computer with over 1,000 images of child pornography. The images were discovered by a technician when Harrist took the computer to be serviced. Harrist was indicted for possession of child pornography and receiving child pornography. He was convicted by a jury on June 12, 2006, following a four-day trial. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov/. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of investigation and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alan Jackson and Gregg A. Marchessault.