Sex Offender Indicted in Internet Child Porn Case

A high-risk sex offender from Santa Ana was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles for possession of nearly 1,300 pieces of child pornography downloaded from the Internet.

Craig Allen Williams told police when he was arrested on July 16 that he considered the 1,233 still images and 65 video images to be art. Earlier that month, Williams was one of seven men identified by police under Megan’s Law, which allows officers to publicize the whereabouts of registered sex offenders.

An investigation by the Tustin Police Department and the U.S. Customs Service led officials to Williams, 37, shortly after they arrested his younger brother at a Tustin home on suspicion of having a massive collection of child pornography. Those photographs depicted children, many as young as 2 or 3, engaged in various sex acts with adults, police said. It was described by one detective as “the worst, most disgusting” he had ever seen.

Authorities learned that the Tustin brother probably received the pornography from Williams, who lives in the 2900 block of South Bradford Place in Santa Ana. When they searched Williams’ computer, officials found “numerous graphic image files” of children having sex with adults, according to an affidavit filed by the U.S. Customs Service.

Because officials believe Williams duplicated or distributed the material, he was arrested on suspicion of felony possession of child pornography. If convicted, he could be sent to prison for five years and be fined $250,000, investigators said.

Williams, who remains in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, is scheduled for arraignment Aug. 18, Assistant U.S. Atty. Nancy B. Spiegel said.