November 5, 2009

Four Virginia men are headed to prison as the result of a crackdown on people who possess and distribute child pornography.

"The distribution of child pornography is a serious and growing problem in our community and across the country," said U.S. Attorney Tim Heaphy.

Heaphy, prosecutors and police outlined the cases to reporters in a news conference in Charlottesville. Several of the defendants had appeared in Federal Court earlier in the day Thursday.

Here are the men convicted and background on the cases against them:

Ian Zearley, 28, is a Charlottesville construction worker first arrested in February. Daniel Walsh, 53, lived in Staunton. Heaphy said the men used a computer file sharing program to exchange images of child porn. Police seized computers from their homes and found the evidence that resulted in their convictions. Zearley and Walsh face a minimum of five years in prison.

"If you are online using file sharing programs, be aware that we are watching you, we will catch you and we will send you to jail," Heaphy said.

Patrick William Kreutzer, 37, lived in Mineral. Heaphy said Kreutzer was nabbed after he began an online chat conversation with an undercover detective in Florida. Kreutzer thought she was the mother of a 7-year-old girl. The prosecutor said Kreutzer had several conversations with the detective about sexual topics including Kreutzer's plan to engage in sexual acts with the child.

Police raided his home and took his computer. He pled guilty and faces a minimum of five years in prison.

The final case is against Mark Church, 41, of Louisa. Heaphy said Church went to a local repair shop to get his computer fixed. The technician noticed child porn images and called police. Church pled guilty and also faces five years in prison.

"We take each and every one of these cases very seriously because we know the exploitation of children has long lasting and real effects on their lives," Heaphy said. "These children are forced to suffer through the physical abuse of sexual assault and then must endure the mental trauma of knowing their image is being traded online."

Heaphy was joined at the news conference by a handful of law enforcement authorities including Nick Rudman and Scott Godfrey from the Charlottesville Police Department.

For more information about how you can protect your kids visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .

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