But he avoids jail time

By SUSANNE HINKLE

News Editor

LULING- A doctor with a medical practice in Harvey that was charged with possession of child pornography has avoided jail time with stipulations put in place by St. Charles Parish Judge Emile St. Pierre.

David Sampognaro, a Luling doctor, was previously charged with 21 counts of possessing child pornography and pleaded no contest to one charge of attempting to possess child pornography. Sampognaro was arrested in March after FBI agents traced child pornography to his personal computer.

Judge St. Pierre gave the doctor a suspended five-year jail sentence, five years probation and a $4,000 fine.

According to the St. Charles Parish Clerk of Court Office, Sampognaro is barred from having unsupervised contact with minors, which includes school and recreation activities. If he should choose to continue to practice medicine, he is required to post a sign that would inform patients that he is a convicted sex offender.

St. Pierre decided to postpone a decision that would forbid the doctor from living in the same house as with his minor children. The decision is pending a test that would determine whether the doctor is a threat to his children.

Sampognaro is required by state law to register as a sex offender and attend sex offender counseling. He cannot have Internet access at his home and can only have monitored Internet access at his place of business.

Officials reserve the right to search his computer at any time if they suspect that the doctor is further engaging in child pornography.