MINNEAPOLIS—Today, in federal court, a 40-year-old Northfield man was charged with distribution of child pornography. Charles Edward Bracken was charged via an information with one count of distribution of child pornography.
According to the information, on September 16, 2010, Bracken used his computer to distribute an image file depicting the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
If convicted, Bracken faces a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison, a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, as well as possible fines and forfeitures. Of course, all sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen B. Schommer.
Possession of child pornography is against the law. In addition to prosecuting these cases, the Justice Department is presently funding a study focused on the correlation between involvement in child pornography and hands-on sexual abuse of children. A 2008 study (The Butner Study) published in theJournal of Family Violence found that up to 80 percent of federal inmates incarcerated for possession, receipt, or distribution of child pornography also admitted to hands-on sexual abuse of children, ranging from touching to rape.
