Indiana

West Point cadet from Granger guilty of owning, distributing child porn

(Source: https://goo.gl/Nd9gFp License: https://goo.gl/sZ7V7x)

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — A West Point cadet has been convicted in New York of collecting and distributing child pornography.

The U.S. attorney’s office says Ricky Patrick Hester of Granger, Indiana, was found guilty Tuesday by a federal court jury in White Plains.

The distribution charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. No sentencing date was immediately set.

At the start of the trial, prosecutor Lauren Schorr said Hester used his cellphone and a Dropbox account to amass hundreds of photos and videos depicting children, mostly boys.

She said he had written an email requesting pictures of boys being forced into sexual acts.

Hester’s lawyer, Patrick Mullin, said government agents improperly questioned Hester and improperly searched his dorm room.

A spokesman said West Point might have comment later Tuesday.

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