Federal Indictment Charges Lubbock Man with Child Pornography Offenses

January 15, 2010 - U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks, of the Northern District of Texas, announced that a federal grand jury in Lubbock, Texas returned an indictment today charging Lubbock resident Dean Richard Tarkington, 57, with two counts of attempted enticement of a child, two counts of attempted production of child pornography, two counts of attempted receipt of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, two counts of attempted possession of child pornography, and one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor.

Tarkington was arrested December 28, 2009, on a criminal complaint charging one count of attempted production of child pornography, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy M. Koenig to make his initial appearance on the charges. Tarkington was placed on pretrial bond at that time.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted on all counts of the indictment, Tarkington faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and a $2.25 million fine.

This case was 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/

U.S. Attorney Jacks commended the investigative efforts of the Louisiana State Police, the Lubbock Police Department, and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Sucsy of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.