Post by WaTcHeR on Mar 14, 2006 10:50:11 GMT -5
Officer Neil Edmiston
03/14/2006- March 13, 2006 - Investigators found hundreds of child pornography pictures on his computer. Now, the former Fresno County Sheriff's deputy is going to prison.
Neil Edmiston was arrested in 2004 for having pornographic images of children on his computer. In court on Monday, a judge sentenced him to three years in prison.
A judge gave Neil Edmiston the low end of the sentencing range, noting he had no prior record, voluntarily admitted to the crime and cooperated with law enforcement.
Edmiston is a former Fresno County Sheriff's deputy who is now going to prison for three years after he admitted to downloading 600 images of child pornography onto 35 disks.
Edmiston declined to comment as he left the federal courthouse.
His attorney, Ernest Kinney, says Edmiston was depressed and on disability during the time he downloaded the images.
He talked with Edmiston after sentencing, "He was alright. He realizes that we wanted a little better, but he's fine. He's taken full responsibility. His mother is concerned and wishes it had been a lot better, because she's a very loving person. But, that's our system."
As part of the judge's sentence, Edmiston must also register as a sex offender. He also cannot use any computer that has internet access and he's not allowed around any minors, with the exception of those who are family members, and relatives under 18 must be supervised by another adult.
Edmiston's defense team asked he be given a lighter sentence because he has no prior criminal record and readily admitted to the crime. But government attorneys disagreed.
The government attorneys told the court, "These children are being re-victimized every time these images are downloaded. I think we need to send a message, this behavior is not appropriate, no matter who you are."
The judge did agree to drop a $10,000 fine, since he said it's clear Edmiston does not have many assets, nor much income. He lives with his mother on disability.
Edmiston was released on Monday, but the judge said he must turn himself in May 12th to begin his prison sentence.