Published: December 24, 2008 11:40 am            

Marietta man indicted for producing child pornography

Submitted by the U.S. attorney's office



ATLANTA — Jeffrey Alan Wasley, 37, of Marietta, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of producing and receiving child pornography. Wasley is scheduled for an initial appearance/bond hearing/arraignment on December 30, 2008.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of the case, “This defendant’s actions are especially disturbing because he was allegedly surreptitiously filming young boys in public restrooms. In addition, he had allegedly collected a large amount of child pornography, actions which support a market designed solely to sexually exploit children for others’ sick enjoyment.”

According to Nahmias, the charges and other information presented in court, Wasley is alleged to have taken sexually lewd and lascivious videos of young boys in public bathrooms. In July of this year, two young boys told Cobb County Police/Crimes Against Children Detectives that Wasley had approached them in the bathroom of a local Target store and had tucked their shirts in for them after they used the restroom. One of the boys said he heard clicking, as if from a camera, while he was using the bathroom. A Target patron also allegedly saw Wasley taking photos of the boys and their mother as they left the Target store.

Cobb County Police’s Crimes Against Children detectives searched Wasley’s home after the incident and allegedly found approximately 5,000 images of child pornography on his home computer. They also allegedly found four video files showing young boys in public bathrooms while they were urinating. In one video, one of the boys appeared to notice the camera and looked up toward it. Once the boy looks up, the image rotated and Wasley can be seen as the camera operator. Another video showed a mother and several children, one of whom was later video recorded using a public bathroom.

The indictment charges one count of producing child pornography and two counts of receiving child pornography. The charges carry a total maximum sentence of 70 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

Members of the public who might have information about this case are encouraged to contact the Cobb County Police Department’s Crimes Against Children’s Unit at (770) 801-3470 or the United States Secret Service at (404) 331-6111.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the attorney general launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States attorney's offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case is being investigated by special agents of the United States Secret Service and detectives with the Cobb County Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit.

Assistant United States attorney Francey Hakes is prosecuting the case.

        

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