According to an indictment that was unsealed in federal court today, a 28-year-old Newtown man has been charged with sexually abusing a 4-year-old girl and maintaining films of the alleged abuse.
David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven has returned an indictment charging Edward F. Wilson with one count of production of child pornography, one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. The indictment was returned on Aug. 9, but ws only unsealed today during Wilson’s arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Thomas P. Smith in Hartford.
The indictment alleges that, in approximately 2011 and 2012, Wilson sexually abused a 4-year-old girl, filmed and photographed the abuse, and maintained the videos and images on his home computer.
In addition to filming, photographing, and maintaining videos and images of the sexual abuse that he inflicted on the female child, the district attorney's office says it is alleged that Wilson downloaded and traded via email hundreds of other images and videos of child pornography. It is further alleged that he maintained his collection of child pornography in his online email account and on his home computers.
If convicted of the charge of production of child pornography, Wilson faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. The charge of receipt and distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Wilson has been detained in state custody since his arrest on April 13, for first-degree possession of child pornography, obscenity, and promoting a minor in an obscene performance. On July 10, he was arrested on 22 additional state charges, including six counts of first-degree sexual assault, five counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, and 11 counts of risk of injury.
U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by the Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the Newtown Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Neeraj Patel.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, and the District of Connecticut’s “Operation Constant Vigilance,” which are aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The above report is based on a press release from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
