Conroy pleads to child pornography charges

December 18, 2010

A Big Spring man indicted on two counts of producing child pornography by a federal grand jury pleaded guilty Thursday, facing up to 50 years in prison, according to officials with the U.S. Attorneys office.

John Alan Conroy, 36, was first arrested by law enforcement officials July 3 on a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Conroy was later taken into federal custody — where he remains — after allegations tied to the Dec. 27, 2009, incident identified in the indictment were made.

Conroy pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to one count of producing child pornography and one count of receipt of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, according to U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas.

He faces a statutory sentence of not less than 15 years or more than 50 years in prison, a $500,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release, according to court officials. Cummings ordered a pre-sentence report, with sentencing to be scheduled after the completion of the report.