Jacksonville, Florida - United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard sentenced Melvin Hubert Holmes (52, Clay County) yesterday to 15 years in federal prison for producing and possessing videos and images depicting child pornography. He was also ordered to serve a 5-year term of supervision, following his incarceration, and to register as a sex offender. A federal jury found Holmes guilty on Sept. 16, 2013.
According to testimony and evidence introduced during trial, from March 10, 2012, through Aug. 19, 2012, Holmes installed a hidden video spy camera in several areas of a bathroom in his residence. On several occasions, Holmes used the camera to capture pornographic videos and images of a minor child. Partially covered holes in a sink vanity and two walls, that had housed the camera, were discovered on Aug. 23, 2012. Clay County Sheriff's Office personnel were contacted and responded to the residence. Several items were seized as part of the investigation, including Holmes’ laptop computer. A forensic analysis of the computer revealed images and videos depicting child pornography that were produced by Holmes.
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
