Paroled Child Molester Sentenced in Porn Case

A convicted child molester, who admitted that he went overseas in recent years to satisfy his desire to have sex with young boys, was sentenced here Monday to eight years’ imprisonment for sending child pornography through the U.S. mail in violation of the Child Protection Act.

U.S. District Judge Harry Hupp admitted that sending H. Keith Simpson, 57, of Santa Monica, to prison is not “going to do (him) any good at all,” because of his age and recent heart problems.

Hupp added that he ordinarily would not jail a person for the offenses that Simpson pleaded guilty to. But the judge said a dilemma confronted him because of Simpson’s continued interest in young boys, despite a 1962 child molestation conviction.

“I’ve got to accomplish the No. 1 goal . . . protecting children everywhere,” Hupp said.

During Monday’s hearing, Simpson said that he was convicted of child molestation in 1962 and spent three years at the Atascadero State Hospital. After his release in 1965, Simpson said he was a “reasonably good citizen” and stayed away from minors as required by the terms of his parole, until about 1970.

“(But) I was unable to transfer (interest) to other sexual objects . . . men, females . . . animals,” he told in court.

Simpson, a travel agent, said he learned while traveling overseas that other societies held different attitudes about sex with minors. So, while observing laws in this country regarding minors, Simpson acknowledged that he occasionally traveled to the Philippines to have sex with young boys.

“What else could I have done?” he asked.

Hupp disagreed.

“No rationalization makes sexual contact with 10-year-olds acceptable,” the judge said. “Childhood innocence is valued throughout the world. It’s only where people are exploited economically that this is tolerated.”

Simpson was ordered to surrender May 5 to begin his prison term.