Two arrested in child porn case
A Phil Campbell woman and the man she allegedly sent nude photos of a minor to are in jail, officials said.
Rebecca Diane Pounders, 40, 668 Kent St., Phil Campbell, is charged with dissemination of child pornography and aiding a person traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act.
Justin Ray Sorensen, 18, of Grayville, which is near Birmingham, is charged with possession of obscene child pornography, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, second-degree sexual abuse and second-degree attempted rape, Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said.
Investigators said child pornography was found on Sorensen’s computer during the course of the investigation, which began with a tip to the Department of Human Resources.
The two were arrested Wednesday after an investigation by the sheriff’s office and Phil Campbell police.
Pounders is accused of sending at least two nude photos of a 15-year-old girl to Sorensen.
Investigators said Pounders met Sorensen on the Internet. Officials said she is accused of sending the photos in hopes of getting Sorensen to have sex with the girl.
Oliver said Sorensen came to Phil Campbell about three weeks ago and had been staying with Pounders.
Sorensen is accused of meeting with the 15-year-old and trying to have sex with her, but she reportedly refused, officials said.
While questioning Sorensen, investigators viewed his computer and found multiple photos of child pornography, including one of a 7-year-old child, though none appear to be of local children.
Aiding a person traveling to meet a child for a unlawful sex act is a Class A felony punishable by 10 years to life in prison if convicted. Dissemination of child pornography is a Class B felony and carries a sentence of 2-20 years. Possession of child pornography is a Class C felony, with a punishment of 1-10 years if found guilty.
Second-degree sexual abuse and attempted second-degree are both Class A misdemeanors, punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine.
Pounders and Sorensen are being held in the Franklin County Jail on $250,000 bond each.
