Man sentenced to 12 years for child porn

AN Eastern Cape man who pleaded guilty to the possession and distribution of child pornography was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment in the Port Elizabeth Regional Court.

Kerwin David Budden from Port Elizabeth pleaded guilty to the charges of possession and distribution of child pornography in August.

Budden’s arrest came after a lengthy investigation triggered by a tip-off from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the US.

At the time, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani said Budden’s case stemmed from August 2019, when a suspect from Krugersdorp, west of Joburg, was arrested for the possession and distribution of child pornography.

Magistrate Kenny Cooney said 24 graphic images depicting child pornography formed part of the docket that was placed before the court as evidence.

Cooney, who described the images as “downright disturbing”, sentenced Budden to 12 years of which four will be suspended for five years.

Cooney ordered Budden’s name be entered into the national register of sex offenders and that he not be allowed to work with children. |