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Federal Jury Convicts Charlotte Resident of Possessing Child Porn

A federal jury convicted 59-year-old Charlotte resident Jose Antonio Hendricks of possession, receipt and transportation of child pornography, following a two-day trial. The charges for transportation and receipt of child pornography carry a sentence of five to 20 years, and the charges for possessing and accessing child pornography carry a maximum sentence of 20 years. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to a statement released by the Department of Justice, law enforcement first became aware in October 2014 that an individual, who they later identified as Hendricks, was using a peer-to-peer network to view and trade child pornography online. Law enforcement then connected to Hendricks’ IP address approximately 70 times to establish that he was viewing and sharing child pornography and child erotica.

Law enforcement seized Hendricks’ tablet and SD card after executing a search warrant of his residence in March 2015. According to the statement, a subsequent forensic examination of the devices revealed numerous images of child pornography.  

The FBI’s Crimes Against Children Squad investigated the case, which was brought as part of a nationwide initiative called Project Safe Childhood. 

R. Andrew Murray, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, announced Hendricks’ conviction and said it’s the first step in ending the “global epidemic” of online child exploitation. 

“Today’s guilty verdict sends a message that the internet is no longer a safe haven for those who engage in child sexual exploitation,” Murray said. “Online predators will be located, prosecuted and ultimately removed from society and away from vulnerable children.”

Murray said online predators “seek shelter” in the anonymity of the internet and that authorities must continue to confront child exploitation with an “aggressive, technology-driven response.”

Jessa O’Connor was an assistant digital news editor and Sunday reporter for WFAE.