DAYTON, Ohio - A federal grand jury has charged Robert Steven Jones, 28, of Anna, Ohio, with charges related to child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor in an indictment returned yesterday in Dayton.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Field Division announced the indictment returned today.
The indictment alleges that Jones knowingly coerced and enticed five minor females to engage in sexual activity for the purpose of producing or attempting to produce child pornography. Jones also allegedly received and possessed child pornography depicting female minors under the age of 12. Jones’ alleged criminal activity occurred while he was required by law to register as a sex offender.
Jones is charged with six counts of production and attempted production of child pornography involving five different alleged victims in multiple states, two counts of coercion and enticement of minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography He also faces an enhanced penalty for allegedly committing certain felony offenses involving a minor while being a registered sex offender.
Jones faces at least 10 years up to life in prison for each coercion and enticement charge. Production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a potential maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Receipt and possession of child pornography are each crimes punishable by up to 20 years in prison, with the receipt charge carrying a 5 year minimum sentence. Committing a felony offense involving a minor while being required to register as a sex offender carries a mandatory 10 year sentence, to run consecutive to any other sentence.
Jones was arrested on November 4, 2015 by criminal complaint. The magistrate court ordered him detained pending trial.
U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex R. Sistla and Vipal Patel, who are prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
