An Etowah County resident, Kevin Glenn Golden, 58, has been arraigned in federal court on multiple charges related to child sexual exploitation. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank.
Golden faces a four-count indictment filed in the U.S. District Court, which includes three counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography. The indictment alleges that between September 2022 and August 2023, Golden coerced a minor into sexually explicit conduct for visual depiction purposes. Additionally, it claims he possessed child pornography from September 2022 to March 2024.
The penalties for these offenses are severe. A conviction for sexual exploitation can result in up to 30 years in prison, while possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations with significant assistance from HSI Harrisonburg, VA; Alabama Law Enforcement Agency; Huntsville Police Department; Etowah County Sheriff’s Office; and Gadsden Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney R. Leann White is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. It coordinates federal, state, and local resources to identify offenders who exploit children via the Internet and rescue victims.
It is important to note that an indictment only contains charges, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
