Former El Dorado County Gymnastics Coach Charged with Attempting to Produce Child Pornography

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Keith Willette, 56, of Cameron Park, charging him with attempted production of child pornography, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, between May 2000 and April 2002, Willette attempted to produce child pornography of a juvenile victim.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rosanne L. Rust and Trial Attorney Jessica Urban with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice, Criminal Division, are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Willette faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charge is only an allegation; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.