William J. Edwards, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a six (6) count indictment was filed against Dale A. Walls, age 38, of Bryan, Ohio. The charges relate to the Possession, Production, and Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography.

Count one of the indictment alleges that on February 5, 2008, the Defendant, Dale A. Walls, knowingly possessed a computer that contained images of child pornography which were transported in interstate or foreign commerce by means of a computer. Counts two through four of the indictment allege that between May 8, 2004 and February 10 of 2006, the Defendant, Dale A. Walls did employ, use, persuade, induce, entice or coerce minor female(s) to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography using materials that had been shipped and transported in interstate or foreign commerce, including by means of computer. Counts five and six allege that between May 28, 2006 and February 5, 2008, the Defendant Dale A. Walls did knowingly receive and distribute in interstate or foreign commerce numerous image files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, by use of his computer.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Williams County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bryan Police Department. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas P. Weldon who may be reached at the above telephone number.

If convicted, the Defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the Defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.