Portland children’s author charged with trafficking child porn
A Portland children’s author has been charged with three felony counts involving child pornography, U.S. Attorneys announced Monday.
Kevin Patrick Bath, 50, was arraigned in U.S. District Court an indictment charging him with distributing, transferring and receiving child porn. He also faced two counts of possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Karin Immergut said.
The writer publishes under the name K.P. Bath and had previously volunteered at a local children’s library, according to charging documents.
Bath’s works include the Castle Cant series of mysteries.
Federal authorities said Bath was trading child porn with others in Washington and Ohio. More than 100 video files and thousands of child porn images were found on his computer, many depicting sexual abuse of very young children.
“Some who traffic in child pornography falsely believe that the anonymity of cyberspace shields them from scrutiny. In fact, the Internet has given us new tools in our enforcement efforts to protect children,” federal agent Leigh Winchell said.
Bath entered not guilty pleas on each count. He was barred from contact with children pending his June 9 trial.
If convicted, Bath faces five to 20 years on each count.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. By ERIC ADAMS, Kgw.com Staff
(via KGW Portland)