OAK GROVE KENTUCKY MAN INDICTED ON INTERNET CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

PADUCAH, KY—A federal grand jury in Paducah returned an indictment against Mark Alan Meadows, age 44, of Oak Grove, Kentucky, in Christian County, on charges of knowingly receiving, possessing and distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney David L. Huber of the Western District of Kentucky announced today.

The Indictment alleges that in January 2007, Meadows distributed child pornography, and that in June 2007, Meadows possessed child pornography. Meadows had previously appeared before the U.S. District Court in Paducah after being arrested on a criminal complaint in February 2008. During a detention hearing on February 27, 2008, the Court heard evidence that between November 2006 and April 2007, Meadows had engaged in internet chat sessions with an undercover detective in Colorado who Meadows thought was a 14-year-old girl. Meadows allegedly told the undercover detective’s persona that he wanted to travel to Colorado, kidnap her, transport her back to Kentucky and make her his sex slave. Meadows indicated during one of his chat sessions with the undercover detective that he would put her in a cage and put a collar on her. The Court also heard evidence that in January 2007, Meadows had engaged in an internet chat session with another undercover detective who Meadows thought was a 14-year-old girl in New York. Meadows told the undercover detective that he liked to tie young girls up. Meadows then sent the undercover detective two images of child pornography showing two young girls tied up.

The Court also heard evidence that the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant for Meadows’ residence in Oak Grove, Kentucky in June 2007. Meadows’ computer was seized at that time and submitted to the Kentucky Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory for analysis. An examination of the computer revealed approximately 1,421 pictures and six videos of suspected child pornography. According to the FBI, 283 of the 1,421 pictures are of men performing sexual acts on young boys and girls.

In the event of a conviction, the combined maximum potential penalties are 50 years imprisonment, a $750,000 fine, or both and supervised release for life; and the minimum potential penalties are 5 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michele Thielhorn, and it was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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