Release Date: Thursday, July 2, 2009 9 a.m.
Harvey Bryant, Commonwealth Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach announced that Paul Alonzo Ewing, age 38, of Portsmouth, pled guilty June 29, 2009 in Norfolk federal court to a three count Criminal Information charging him with possession of child pornography. Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, also made the announcement after Ewing pled guilty before United States District Judge Jerome B. Friedman. Ewing will be sentenced on September 25, 2009.
“This case is an excellent example of the cooperation that exists between both state and federal jurisdictions among the experienced professionals that head these offices” Bryant said. “Taking this case to federal court significantly narrowed the options of this defendant in terms of delay and sentencing.”
According to court documents and in the proceedings today, on September 29, 2008, Portsmouth Police seized personal computers and other media from Ewing’s residence pursuant to a search warrant. At the time of the seizure, Ewing was a police officer with the Portsmouth Police Department. An analysis of Ewing’s computers and a thumb drive revealed at least 150 images of a known local victim of child pornography.
Following the initial investigation by the Portsmouth Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation assumed jurisdiction of the case for further investigation. At the request of Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney Earl Mobley, Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey L. Bryant was appointed by the Portsmouth Circuit Court to prosecute the case to avoid any appearance of bias in the investigation or prosecution of a Portsmouth police officer. Virginia Beach Senior Commonwealth’s Attorney Charles Griffith, Jr., cross-designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, along with Assistant United States Attorney Melissa E. O’Boyle are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.
Similar Press Releases: child pornography, Harvey Bryant
