Former Villa Rica Teacher Indicted for Possession of Child Porn

Joseph Monroe Wilson, 43, a former school teacher at New Georgia Elementary School in Villa Rica, and a former resident of Dallas, (now a resident of Spartanburg, SC) was indicted on July 24, for receipt and possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. 

Wilson was arrested on July 26, and had a detention hearing today before United States Magistrate Judge Linda Walker who set a $150,000 corporate surety bond with conditions that include home detention, GPS monitoring, and a requirement that Wilson stay away from children.          

“This defendant did not simply seek out inappropriate images of children, but as a teacher put himself in a position of trust and authority with respect to children of that same age and went so far as to attempt to adopt a young child,” said Quillian Yates. “We will do everything in our power to prevent predators from having contact with potential victims in our community.”          

“One of the most important things the U.S. Postal Inspection Service can deliver is a child's safety,” said Keith Morris, Postal Inspector in Charge for the Atlanta Division. “Postal Inspectors have a long history of aggressively investigating predators who attempt to sexually exploit children through the use of the U.S. mail. Although predators now utilize more sophisticated technology, Postal Inspectors will continue to remain steadfast in our mission, no matter what means or methods they use.”                

According to United States Attorney Yates and the information presented in court: In February and March 2011, Wilson ordered numerous images and movies containing sexually explicit images of young boys from a company based in Canada. In March 2012, the United States Postal Inspection Service, assisted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Paulding County Sheriff's Office, executed a federal search warrant at Wilson’s home in Paulding County. 

During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement found a large portrait of a young, naked boy hidden in Wilson’s closet and numerous images of child erotica and child pornography on Wilson’s home computer. At the time the search warrant was executed, Wilson was a teacher at New Georgia Elementary School in Villa Rica, and was in the process of adopting a seven year old boy. He is no longer teaching at the school and the adoption will not take place.

The indictment charges Wilson will receipt of child pornography, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of $250,000. Wilson is also charged with possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of $250,000. 

Both charges carry no less than five years to a lifetime of supervised release.  If convicted, Wilson will be required to register as a sex offender. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

This case is being 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, 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.

This case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.   Assistant United States Attorney Jill E. Steinberg is prosecuting the case.           Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.