United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Project Safe Childhood: STONINGTON MAN ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ALAN HESKETH, 61, a citizen of the United Kingdom and a lawful permanent resident of the United States residing on Montauk Avenue in Stonington, Connecticut, was arrested yesterday, March 26, at JFK International Airport in New York by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on federal charges of receipt and distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, from June 2006 to May 2007, HESKETH is alleged to have used Google’s “Hello” program to exchange hundreds of images of child pornography with another Hello user and to engage in online “chats” during which he discussed, among other things, the sexual molestation of children.  Many of the exchanged images depicted prepubescent and pubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct with adults and other minors.

HESKETH appeared this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford.  He is detained pending a detention hearing in this matter that has been scheduled for Monday, March 31, at 2:00 p.m.

The charge of receipt and distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.  The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney O’Connor stressed that HESKETH has only been charged with the referenced crimes.  The defendant is entitled to have the case presented to a grand jury and, if he is indicted, he is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney O’Connor commended the investigative efforts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Deborah R. Slater.

United States Attorney O’Connor noted that this prosecution is part of the United States Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States 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.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov