HUNTSVILLE POLICE OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE

BIRMINGHAM, AL - KENNETH DUANE HAGA, age 41 of Huntsville, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to a federal child pornography charge, according to U. S. Attorney Alice H. Martin.

HAGA pled guilty to the one-count indictment before United States District Court Judge Sharon L. Blackburn. According to the indictment, on or about February 24, 2006, in Madison County, Alabama, HAGA made and published a notice, which traveled in interstate commerce via the mail, requesting and offering to receive visual images which involved the depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

According to the Plea Agreement and factual basis given in court today, HAGA, who was then a Huntsville Police Officer, mailed a letter to a minor female in Titus County, Texas, asking her to take sexually graphic photographs of herself. HAGA had met the minor while in Texas and had stayed with her family. HAGA also provided the victim with a digital camera which was apparently to be used to take the photographs. A search of HAGA’s computer revealed the presence of dozens of sexually explicit pictures which the victim had taken and mailed to HAGA.

HAGA faces a prison term of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years and a fine of up to $250,000. According to the Plea Agreement HAGA, the United States Attorney’s Office will recommend that HAGA be sentenced to 15 years in prison, placed on supervised release for 15 years after he completes the prison term, and that while on supervised release HAGA have no unsupervised contact with minors.

According to U.S. Attorney Martin, “Child pornography is nothing less than a crime scene photo of child sexual abuse. All predators will be treated the same - harshly.”

Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating this case. U. S. Attorney Alice H. Martin and Assistant United States Attorney Russell Penfield is prosecuting this case on behalf of the U.S. Government.

A Sentencing date has not been set by the court at this time. HAGA will remain in federal custody without bond.