A 54-year-old Canton man is now facing charges for the possession and production of child pornography after officials allegedly discovered illicit images on his digital camera. The punishment for these crimes includes a maximum of 10 years for possession, and 15 to 30 years for production. Federal authorities are currently holding him in custody, and he had an arraignment scheduled in mid-February at the U.S. District Court in Akron, Ohio.

The charges come after a relative of the man apparently found troubling images on the camera and subsequently gave it to Canton police. These images appeared to show an adult male and a child engaging in sexual conduct. During a subsequent search of the man's home, police claim to have found child pornography on his computer and CDs. He also allegedly admitted that the camera was his and that he took the pictures.

The possession of child pornography is a serious crime that typically results in aggressive enforcement in Ohio and elsewhere. However, in cases such as this, it is more important than ever to remember that all individuals are entitled to a fair trial and that the law always presumes that one is innocent unless and until proven guilty. Then, and only then, is the issue of punishment warranted.

Despite the man's apparent admission, he is still entitled to a fair adjudication of all issues at trial. As he fights for a fair and reasonable result, the man should focus his efforts on understanding his legal rights and options so as to ensure his rights are fully protected as he fights for a positive outcome to all allegations made against him.

Source: The Canton Repository, "Digital camera leads to child porn arrest," Shane Hoover, Feb. 7, 2012