CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

BUFFALO, N.Y.--William Baker, 65, of Lackawanna, New York, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, to a felony charge of Possession of Child pornography, U.S. Attorney Terrance P. Flynn of the Western District of New York announced today. Possession of Child Pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie P. Grisanti, who handled the case, stated that a computer repairman notified the Lackawanna Police Department that he saw child pornography on Baker's computer. Baker was previously convicted of two counts of Sodomy in the Second Degree in 1988 in Erie County for conduct relating to sexual conduct with a minor. Baker had been a boy scout leader for approximately 30 years until his conviction in 1988. Baker had previously admitted to molesting numerous children in the past.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .

The plea was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent In Charge Laurie Bennett and officers of the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Dennis O'Hara.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 16, 2009, at 12:30 pm. EST, in Buffalo, N.Y., in front of Chief U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.