Jefferson County Man Guilty of Child Pornography Violations

BEAUMONT, Texas – A 20-year-old Nederland, Texas man, who now lives in Houston, has pleaded guilty to child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Lehi Sorenson pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography today before U.S. Magistrate judge Keith F. Giblin.

According to information presented in court, on Jan. 12, 2011, federal officials executed a search warrant at Sorenson’s residence in Nederland, Texas.  Several computers and digital storage were seized during the search and found to contain more than 1180 images of child pornography.  Some of the material would be considered sadistic or masochistic and some depicted prepubescent children under the age of 12.  An Information was filed on Aug. 8, 2012, charging Sorenson with possession of child pornography.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Sorenson faces up to 10 years in federal prison.  A sentencing date has not been set.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Nederland Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Tortorice.