Federal jury finds Deming man guilty of child-porn possession; sentencing set for July
A Deming man has been convicted of two felonies in federal court related to his possession of more than 90,000 files depicting child sexual abuse, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Robert J. Howell Jr., 47, was arrested by Homeland Security in July 2021 after the department’s Blaine office received a tip that a computer IP address — later determined to be associated with Howell — had accessed a website dedicated to child sexual abuse material. The website had an emphasis on bondage, dominance, sadism and masochism, gore and death-related material, according to court records.
Jurors deliberated for about an hour following a two-day trial, the Department of Justice said, and ultimately found Howell guilty. Howell faces a minimum of five years in prison and up to 20 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for July 15.