Father and Son Arrested in Child Pornography Case

ROCHESTER, NY—Robert Hobbins, 53, and Steven Hobbins, 19, of Rochester, New York, were arrested on felony charges of possession of child pornography, Acting United States Attorney Kathleen M. Mehltretter of the Western District of New York announced today. Possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee stated that the defendants were each charged with possession of child pornography when, on June 18, 2009, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office seized computer disks belonging to Robert Hobbins containing hundreds of child pornography images. Monroe County Sheriff's Investigators further seized a laptop from Steven Hobbins containing child pornography videos.

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 arrest was the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn, the Monroe County District Attorney's Office under the direction of Mike Green and and Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Laurie J. Bennett.

A detention hearing is to be scheduled in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson with regards to Robert Hobbins.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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