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Grundy Center man charged with possessing child pornography

Ricky Patten, age 41, from Grundy Center, Iowa has been charged with one count of possessing child pornography. The charge is contained in a complaint unsealed on September 20, 2010, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.

The complaint alleges that, between January and July 2010, Patten knowingly possessed depictions of child pornography.

If convicted, Patten faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and up to life on supervised release following any imprisonment.

Patten appeared on September 20 in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was held without bond.

As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, the Grundy Center Police Department and the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.