Orange County Judge Faces Additional Child Porn Charges

An Orange County judge charged this month with possession of child pornography faces additional counts after a search of his home and computer uncovered more than 100 images of child pornography, according to a federal indictment.

A federal grand jury on Wednesday returned six new counts of possession of child pornography against Superior Court Judge Ronald C. Kline, 61.

The images, according to Assistant U.S. Atty. Deirdre Eliot, depict sexual intercourse and lewd conduct involving male minors. “Based on these six counts, the defendant could face a penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment,” Eliot said.

Kline’s lawyer, Paul Meyer, said his client would plead not guilty at an arraignment Monday.

The charges stem from several tips authorities received from a group who surf the Internet in search of child pornography traders. Meyer claims that the case is based on information acquired illegally by hackers.

“The photos were discovered when a hacker in a remote location infected his computer with a virus and made an unauthorized copy of the entire contents of his hard drive,” Meyer said. “The contents included Kline’s private medical and financial information. The computer also housed a diary which included private thoughts that Judge Kline had never shared with anyone.”

Meyer did not say who he believes did the hacking.

When Kline surrendered to local and federal authorities Nov. 9, prosecutors alleged that his diary contained passages about having a sexual attraction to teenage boys and claimed he visited shopping malls, Little League games and the shower of an athletic club to observe them.

Authorities have not charged Kline in connection with the diary, nor have they accused him of soliciting or making contact with any minors. However, a judge placed Kline under home detention in Irvine. He must wear an electronic monitoring device and has been barred from surfing the Internet, contacting minors alone and loitering near schools or arcades.

Though no disciplinary action has been taken against Kline by the California State Bar, the Orange County Superior Courts have placed him on paid administrative leave. Kline’s annual salary is $133,051.