According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Clinton, Tennessee native Dakota Destry Weaver was recently convicted of receipt and possession of child pornography following an investigation by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and Knoxville Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The investigation revealed that Weaver had a collection of numerous still images and videos containing pornographic images of minor children saved on his computer. Weaver pleaded guilty in June 2015 to the federal charges.
This case was brought as part of a national initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section called “Project Safe Childhood.” This initiative was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice in order to address the growing issue of sexual exploitation and abuse of children on the Internet. (www.projectsafechildhood.gov)
As a result of his conviction, Weaver was sentenced on November 3, 2015, to serve 144 months (12 years) in prison, followed by 20 years of supervision by the U.S. Probation Office. He will also be required to register with the sex offender registry in any state in which he resides, works, or attends school.
For more information regarding federal laws involving sex crimes, visit: /areas-of-practice/criminal-defense/federal-criminal-defense/sex-crimes/