Man Pleads Not Guilty to Child Pornography Charges
A Simi Valley man pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges that he posted advertisements on the Internet to receive and distribute child pornography.
Appearing in federal court in Los Angeles, Ernest Gonzales, 56, is accused of publishing an ad to exchange child pornography and four counts of using a computer to transport the images.
Authorities said they found 525 images of child pornography on Gonzales’ computer during a search of his home in February. The search came shortly after some of the images were discovered online by German authorities.
During an investigation dubbed “KinderSchutz,” the German National Police searched for child-pornography providers and discovered the ad allegedly placed by Gonzales. Investigators forwarded the information to the U.S. Customs Service, who served a search warrant on Gonzales’ home.
Gonzales was indicted March 28. He returns to court May 28 for trial. If convicted, Gonzales faces up to 80 years in prison.
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