LAPLACE – On Monday, U.S. Attorney Dana Boente brought charges of child pornography production and distribution against a Luling man.
Chad Michael Hotard, 28, was charged in a Bill of Information with two counts of production and one count of
distribution of child
pornography. According to the Bill of Information, Hotard knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce child pornography on two separate occasions, Dec. 13, 2012, and March 12, 2013.
In addition, Hotard was charged with distributing digital images and computer images of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct on March 13, 2013. If convicted of production of child pornography, the mandatory minimum sentence is 15 years for each count. The maximum sentence is 30.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
Distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years. All three charges also carry a fine of $250,000, a term of supervised release for life and sex offender registration.
U. S. Attorney Dana Boente said that the
Bill of Information is merely a charge, and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office. Prosecution of the case is being handled by Strike Force Chief and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood or Internet safety, visit www.usdoj.gove/psc.