TYLER, Texas - A 46-year-old Grapeland, Texas man has pleaded guilty to child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Robbie Newby pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child on Jan. 9, 2014, before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.
According to information presented in court, on March 14, 2012, Newby coerced or persuaded a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating child pornography. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on April 17, 2013, charging Newby with child exploitation violations.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Newby faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
