BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AN email is currently circulating via the BlackBerry Messaging forum and is said to be child pornography and not what it portrays itself to be. The police are therefore cautioning the general public not to visit such sites or send child pornography over this electronic medium.
According to a press release from the Public Relations Office of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF), the Special Victims Unit (SVU) of that institution “wishes to advise and caution the general public that there is an email circulating the Blackberry Messaging forum that is child pornography and not what it is portraying itself to be”.
The release also stated that the pretext of the message is to generate assistance for a person who alleges the need for legal assistance in saving a life, but noted it is child pornography and persons could be arrested for forwarding it.
“Be advised that governments outside the Federation are very sensitive to child pornography and if you live in one of those countries, you may be subjecting yourself to arrest by visiting the site by clicking on the link. Remember that pictures are sometimes automatically stored on the downloading device,” the release cautions.
It further stated that the SVU suggests that to avoid being arrested for visiting or sending child pornography over this electronic medium, the general public should delete the text or email without opening it.
“Remember, you can be charged as it relates to child pornography,” it added.
Just six days ago (Nov. 7), two Illinois men were indicted on child pornography charges in two separate cases.
According to a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s release, Parrish Kappes (46) and Zachary M. Vincent (21), both of Tuscola, Illinois were charged with child pornography. The former is facing three counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography, while the latter is facing two counts of distributing child pornography, one count of receiving and one count of possessing child pornography.
Both men were ordered by US Magistrate Judge David G. Bernthal to remain detained in custody of the US Marshals Service.
If convicted, the statutory penalty for each count of distribution and of receipt of child pornography is a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison and up to a lifetime of supervised release.
If a defendant has a prior child sex abuse or child pornography conviction, the statutory penalty is a minimum of 15 years and up to 40 years in prison. For possession of child pornography, the penalty is up to 10 years in prison.
Also, the release stated that each indictment seeks forfeiture of computers and related materials allegedly used to commit or promote the offences.
