FEDERAL GRAND JURY RETURNS SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT CHARGING FORMER
LOUISVILLE RESIDENT WITH RECEIVING AND POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

LOUISVILLE, KY - A federal grand jury in Louisville returned a Superseding Indictment against Reginald Hough, age 59, formerly of Jeffersonville, Indiana, on two charges of violating federal child pornography laws, U.S. Attorney David L. Huber of the Western District of Kentucky announced today.

The Superseding Indictment charges that between March and April 2005, Hough knowingly attempted to receive child pornography. The grand jury had previously charged Hough with knowingly possessing child pornography during that same time period. Under federal law, child pornography is defined as any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture, or computer or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct, where the production of such visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Sexually explicit conduct includes (a) actual or simulated sexual intercourse, including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex; (b) bestiality; (c); masturbation; (d) sadistic or masochistic abuse; or (e) lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any person.

Hough has been in federal custody since his arrest on March 22, 2006, pursuant to a federal arrest warrant. During the detention hearing before the United States Magistrate, the United States presented evidence concerning the nature of Hough's prior conviction. Specifically, on April 3, 1992, Hough was convicted in Columbia County, New York, of two counts of first degree sodomy and two counts of first degree sexual abuse. The child victim was under the age of 11.

Hough had been previously arrested by Louisville Metro Police Department officers (LMPD) on April 18, 2005, for possession of child pornography and failing to register as a sex offender. At the time of his arrest by LMPD, Hough was living in Louisville, Kentucky. The Citation issued in conjunction with his arrest indicates that law enforcement officials searched Hough's residence and computers which revealed images of child pornography.

After the LMPD arrest, Hough moved to Jeffersonville, Indiana. According to Hough's then attorney, Hough registered as a sex offender in Indiana. The United States presented evidence to the Magistrate Judge that Hough had violated the "no contact with children" condition previously entered by the Jefferson District Court. When the agents arrested Hough, they found him at home alone with two young children. Additionally, the United States presented evidence of allegations made by a female neighbor child of Hough's that he had touched her inappropriately on several occasions.

In the event of a conviction, Hough faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years. The maximum potential penalties include 60 years' imprisonment, a $500,000.00 fine, and supervised release for any number of years and could include life.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's 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.

Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless is prosecuting the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department Crimes Against Children Unit conducted the investigation.

Hough is scheduled for trial on May 20, 2008, beginning at 10:00 a.m. in Louisville, Kentucky, before United States District Judge Jennifer B. Coffman.

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