Baldwin Man Charged with Violating Child Sexual Exploitation Laws

A resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury for violating federal child sexual exploitation laws, according to U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton.

The one-count indictment, returned on Nov. 29 and unsealed on Dec. 8, names Jerrold Brassart, 59, of 4043 Willett Road, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, Brassart, from Aug. 15 to Oct. 26, 2011, possessed and accessed with intent to view visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Hull is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The FBI,  and Pittsburgh High Tech Crimes Task Force conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is a product of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in February 2006, Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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