Laramie Man Pleads Not Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Child

A 37-year-old Laramie man pleaded not guilty to sexual exploitation of a child in Albany County District Court Friday, June 2.

If convicted of the charges, the man could face up to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

According to court documents, on March 30, agents with the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children task force served a federal search warrant on the defendant’s home in Laramie. The agents met with the defendant, who told them that he had about 20 child pornographic videos on his laptop computer. The man told agents he had been searching for child pornography on the internet since about 2009.

The agents found the laptop and other storage devices, which did contain about 20 video files of child pornographic material, court documents state.

The defendant’s attorney, Vaughn Neubauer, asked the court for an adjustment to the defendant’s bond to allow him to find a job and make occasional necessary trips, such as to the grocery store. Neubauer said the defendant was basically on house arrest and was unable to leave the house without the accompaniment of his parents.

Prosecutor Kurt Britzius said the state did not want to prevent the defendant from finding a job, but that the state had concerns about whether his employment would provide access to children or to the internet. Neubauer suggested that the defendant be required to petition the court before accepting any job offers, and Britzius and Albany County District Court Judge Tori Kricken agreed and adjusted the terms of the defendant’s bond to allow him to seek employment.

His trial is scheduled for Nov 1 and 2.

Note: The names of defendants in sex crime cases are not used until a conviction, or guilty or no contest pleas unless the defendant is a person of public interest or trust. The defendant’s name has not been run in this case.