COVINGTON, Ky. — Robert Dobbs, 40, of Wilmington, Ohio, pleaded guilty yesterday before United States District Court Senior Judge William Bertelsman to 2 counts of an Indictment charging Sexual Exploitation of Children. Dobbs was indicted in October of last year.

The Indictment alleged that Dobbs took sexually explicit photographs of two different children under the age of 12 and then transported these images across state lines. In the course of entering his guilty plea, Dobbs admitted that between 2000 and 2002, he took nine sexually explicit photographs of one victim. He also admitted that in 2005, he took three sexually explicit photographs portraying a second victim.

Dobbs admitted that he took these photographs while acting as a babysitter for each of the victims. He also admitted to having sexual contact with one of the victims.

For the first count, Dobbs faces a minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and five years of supervised release. For the second count, due to statutory changes, he faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and the potential of supervised release for life.

Dobbs is currently scheduled to appear for sentencing before the United States District Court in Covington on April 20, 2007, at 1:00 p.m.

Amul R. Thapar, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Timothy P. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, jointly made the announcement after the guilty plea was entered.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Bracke. The investigation and prosecution were carried out as part of the ongoing Project Safe Childhood initiative.

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