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Ex-Customs man pleads not guilty on child porn raps
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Posted on Aug 06 2004
A former Customs officer yesterday pleaded not guilty to child pornography charges in federal court.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Bowers filed Thursday a superseding indictment, charging 54-year-old Crispin A. Taitano with a count of receipt of child pornography and multiple counts of possession of child pornography.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Alex R. Munson scheduled Taitano’s trial to begin on Oct. 12. The judge remanded Taitano to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.
Taitano, owner of the Cue Time pool hall, bar and game room on Rota, allegedly received five VHS videotapes and a DVD that were mailed and shipped from off-island on April 22. The video materials depicted underaged persons engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Taitano allegedly received the video materials last April 22 on Rota. Bowers also charged Taitano with six counts of possession of child pornography.
Receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment, and a maximum term of 20 years without the possibility of parole plus a $250,000 fine. Each of the possession of child pornography charged carries a term of imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000, the prosecutors said.
The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspections Service investigated the case against Taitano. (John Ravelo).
