A 70-Year-Old Lubbock Man Faces Up to 10 Years for Federal Child Pornography Offense

A 70-year-old Lubbock man, Everette Murdock, of Lubbock, Texas appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy M. Koenig today and pleaded guilty to an indictment charge of one count of access with intent to view child pornography, said John R. Parker, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Murdock, currently on bond, faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. A sentencing date has not been set.

The Lubbock man, according to plea documents filed in the case, used a computer to access, with intent to view, various images of child pornography. He used file sharing software to search for material that likely resulted in his access to child pornography. He would view the material and then delete it. In late August 2014, law enforcement seized Murdock’s computer and hard drive during the execution of a search warrant at his residence.

The case is part of a nationwide initiative, Project Safe Childhood, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. This initiative combats the growing epidemic of child exploitations and abuse, and is led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children as well as identify and rescue victims.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is conducting the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Sucsy is in charge of the prosecution.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please click here. For more information about internet safety education, please click here.