Samuel Kent Barnett Indicted for Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography

March 16, 2010 - GREENEVILLE, TN—A federal grand jury in Greeneville returned a two count indictment on March 9, 2010, against Samuel Kent Barnett, 47, of Johnson City, Tennessee, for receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Barnett appeared in court on March 10, 2010, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis H. Inman and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges in the indictment. He was held pending trial, which has been set for May 27, 2010, in United States District Court, in Greeneville, Tennessee.

The indictment alleges that Barnett, from on or about July of 2008, accessed the Internet from his residence and downloaded images of minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. If convicted, Barnett faces a term of a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release of a minimum of five years and up to life.

This indictment is the result of an investigation by the Johnson City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Gregory Bowman will represent the United States.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.