Sunday, July 26, 2009

Sgt Milton 'Scott' Pruitt Guilty of Receiving Child Porn


It took a trial of less than a week and only two hours of jury deliberation for former Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Milton "Scott" Pruitt to be convicted of two counts of receiving child pornography.

He could face up to 40 years in jail, and will be sentenced Oct. 8.

"Any person who is entrusted with protecting the public's safety is the last person we would expect to exploit children," said U.S. Attorney David E. Nahmias. "Instead of upholding the law as he was sworn to do, this defendant trampled the law and victimized innocent children."

Pruitt, 41 and an eight-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office, was indicted in August 2008 on three counts of receiving and possessing child pornography. The jury found him not guilty of the third charge, possession.

Pruitt was fired from the Sheriff's Office May 17, two months after the county's IT department discovered he had been looking at investigative files seized as part of a case on child pornography on his cruiser's laptop. The case was given to the GBI, which investigated it.

Pruitt, a sergeant supervising other patrol deputies, was not authorized to view the 10 sexually explicit images, which were in a detective's case files.

During an interview with a GBI agent, Pruitt admitted that he accessed and viewed the pornographic images because he was "just curious," it was revealed in court.

A subsequent search of Pruitt's home computer turned up hundreds of images of child pornography and numerous Internet searches for such images, said the GBI in court.

He turned himself in to Forsyth authorities May 23.

Pruitt shocked many in Forsyth County in February 2008 when he announced his candidacy for Sheriff in the July 15 primary.

During his campaign, the embattled former deputy wouldn't answer questions about the child pornography charges he faced under order from his lawyer.

He was soundly defeated, garnering nearly 8 percent of the vote to Sheriff Ted Paxton's 85 percent. He did, however, do slightly better than candidate Brian Millard, another ex-deputy.

One-year-old Dies from Child Abuse

A 1-year-old Hammond, Ind., baby died Friday morning from child abuse, according to a Sunday autopsy.

Mya Lee, 21 months old, of 2208 Woodhollow Lane in Hammond, was injured at her home and was pronounced dead at 7:25 a.m. Friday at University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.

A Sunday autopsy determined Mya died of subdural hematoma, blunt force trauma and child abuse, the medical examiner's office said. The death was ruled a homicide.

Hammond police are investigating, but a spokesman was not immediately available.

Jorge Amilcar Pavon Arrested for Sexual Assault on 9-year-old


LOS ANGELES

A handyman was arrested for sexually assaulting a 9 year old girl- - and police believe he may have victimized many more children.

Last Wednesday, Jorge Amilcar Pavon, 49, was arrested by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's Sexual Assault Detail for committing lewd acts upon a 9-year old girl, said officials.

Pavon was a maintenance worker in over 20 apartment buildings that contained over 500 units in the Hollywood area, LAPD officials said.

The LAPD believes Pavon may have victimized more female children, and has released his photo, urging more juvenile victims to come forward.

Pavon is being held without bail and is also awaiting immigration proceedings.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked by police to call Operation West Bureau Sexual Assault Detail Officers at (213) 473-0404.

Tipsters may choose to remain anonymous.

John Kovach Arrested for Child Porn


A teacher and field hockey coach is now facing a federal indictment on child pornography charges.

Fifty-two-year-old John Kovach was arrested on March 11 by Baltimore County police. He was a teacher at a Montessori school in Montgomery County and an assistant field hockey coach at Towson University.

Authorities say the investigation began after a sexually explicit online conversation between Kovach and a retired Los Angeles police detective who was posing as a 13-year-old girl.

Police searched Kovach's Reisterstown home and seized computers. According to the indictment, authorities found sexually explicit images of young girls.

Kovach has been charged with receipt and possession of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.
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