A Topeka man has been charged with producing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.Jonathan Kearn, 38, Topeka, Kan., is charged in a federal criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Topeka with one count of producing child pornography, one count of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.
The affidavit in support of the criminal complaint says the investigation began in April 2013 when Kearn is alleged to have contacted an investigator working undercover with the Queensland Police Service in Queensland, Australia. Kearn sent the agent photographs of naked children. After being contacted by Australian police, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cyber Crime Center, Child Exploitation Investigations Unit followed an electronic trail leading to Kearn. Investigators served a search warrant at Kearn’s residence in Topeka and seized child pornography.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years on the charge of producing child pornography, not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years on the charge of distributing child pornography and not more than 10 years on the charge of possessing child pornography. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney is prosecuting.