A former Boy Scout leader and medic pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of distribution of child pornography.
Alan Johnson, 24, of West Carrollton, could spend 13 years in federal prison if U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett accepts the plea deal struck between the government and defense attorneys.
Barrett can accept or reject the plea deal. If he rejects it, Johnson could withdraw his guilty plea. No date has been set for sentencing. Barrett ordered a pre-sentence investigation to learn more about the case.
"Guilty, your Honor," is what Johnson said when Barrett asked for his plea.
During a hearing in Dayton's U.S. District Court, federal prosecutors said the sentencing range for the charge is between five and 20 years with a maximum fine of $250,000.
Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Special Agent Jason Kearns said Johnson's prosecution stemmed from a Wilmington, Del. HSI's September 2013 investigation of a peer-to-peer filing sharing network. The user name "ilovethis" was tied to Johnson, and 24 images of child pornography were downloaded by the agent.
National and local law enforcement officials served a search warrant on Johnson's Grantwood Drive residence on April 3. More than 600 images, including child pornography, were found on Johnson's computer.
Officials said that Johnson was an assistant troop leader for the Boy Scouts of America and also was employed as an emergency medical technician for EMT Inc. Miami Valley Council Boy Scouts executive Doug Nelson said Johnson was removed from the ranks of leadership April 3.
Prosecutors said Johnson admitted to an attraction to prepubescent and teen boys that developed when he was 16 years old.
Under cross examination in an earlier hearing, Kearns testified that Johnson voluntarily talked to law enforcement from 7:15 a.m. April 3 until riding to the West Carrollton police station at about 10 a.m. Kearns said he watched via closed-circuit television as a Secret Service agent interviewed Johnson for three more hours, but that the discussion was not recorded.
Kearns said Johnson was given his Miranda rights before the polygraph machine was hooked up, but that Johnson was free to go at any time and never asked for an attorney. The agent said that Johnson was given a ride home and then later arrested at his residence.
