Dallas Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Pornography Offense

DALLAS—Timothy Honnoll, 39, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma C. Ramirez to an Information charging receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks, of the Northern District of Texas. Honnoll faces a maximum statutory sentence of not less than five years or more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release. Honnoll remains on bond; sentencing is set for February 7, 2010, before U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey.

According to documents filed in the case, Honnoll admitted using a “peer-to-peer” file-sharing program on his computer to download several movies and still images of child pornography. Honnoll also admits that the child pornography included bondage and other sadistic acts involving minors.

The investigation began in Florida, where an FBI agent, working in an undercover capacity, and using a file-sharing software, viewed and downloaded more than 20 files of child pornography from a user, later identified as Honnoll. A federal search warrant was later executed at Honnoll’s residence in Dallas and during the course of that search, Honnoll admitted that he had received and transported child pornography using peer-to peer software. He admitted that he had been collecting child pornography for two years and that it sexually aroused him. The FBI found 600 images and 180 videos of child pornography on Honnoll’s computer and related storage media.

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/

The case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Sparks.