Man, 84, pleads not guilty in child porn case
An 84-year-old man accused of producing and distributing child pornography pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing Monday in a Texarkana federal court.
Jay Earl Anderson allegedly coerced or enticed a girl younger than 18 into sexual activity April 14 and 15, according to Count 1 of a threecount indictment issued May 17 in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas. The second count of Anderson’s indictment alleges he persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual image of the conduct. The third count alleges distribution of child pornography April 18 using a social media platform to distribute an “image depicting a pubescent female engaged in sexually explicit conduct.”
Anderson appeared Monday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven with Texarkana lawyer Craig Henry for arraignment in Texarkana’s downtown federal building. Henry entered pleas of not guilty to each of Anderson’s ANDERSON
three pending criminal charges. Henry waived the issue of detention and Anderson remains in the Titus County jail in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
The indictment’s first count, coercion and enticement, is punishable by a minimum of 10 years to life in prison and includes the possibility of a $5,000 assessment. Sexual exploitation of children is punishable by a minimum of 15 years up to 30 years unless there is a prior conviction for a sexual offense.
With a prior conviction, the punishment range can be enhanced and a conviction for sexual exploitation of children includes a mandatory $5,000 assessment. Distribution of child pornography is punishable by five to 20 years, though the punishment range can be enhanced with a prior conviction for a sexual offense.
The government is seeking Anderson’s forfeiture of digital cameras, CDs and DVDs, laptops, an Amazon Kindle, a Nook tablet, USB drives and digital media.
Anderson is scheduled for a July jury trial before U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder III.
llarowe@texarkanagazette.com