FORMER KOMOMO SWIM COACH INDICTED FOR
PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND POSSESSION
OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

PRESS RELEASE

Timothy M. Morrison, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, announced that BRIAN D. HINDSON, 40, of Westfield, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury sitting in Indianapolis for production of child pornography (three counts), distributing child pornography (four counts) and with possession of child pornography at his residence on February 5, 2008 (one count). Morrison advised that indictment at this time was a procedural necessity, but that the investigation of this matter is ongoing and not yet complete.

These charges are the result of a joint investigation by the Kokomo Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with additional assistance from the Westfield Police Department, the Carmel Police Department, the Special Investigations Section of the Indiana State Police, the Fishers Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. These law enforcement agencies are actively involved in the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Hamilton County Metropolitan Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This investigation is also part of the Project Safe Childhood Initiative.

HINDSON worked as the Head Coach/CEO of Central Indiana Aquatics, the Head Coach of Kokomo High School Swimming & Diving, and as a Coaches Representative for Indiana Swimming, Inc. According to the indictment, sometime between 2005 and 2007, HINDSON allegedly produced child pornography in connection with three “Jane Does.” The law does not require that the minor in the depiction be aware of or voluntarily participate in the creation of the visual depiction. HINDSON is also alleged to have distributed child pornography containing images of some of the “Jane Does.”

HINDSON allegedly possessed computer video files containing visual depictions of actual minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. These files were allegedly contained within an external hard drive recovered during a search of his residence on February 5, 2008. The files charged in the possession count contain images of some of the “Jane Does,” as well as other images of minors from internet sources.

An initial appearance on the indictment will be scheduled before a U.S. Magistrate in Indianapolis.

According to Assistant U. S. Attorney Steven D. DeBrota and Bonnie Kane, Trial Attorney with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, who are prosecuting the case for the government, production of child pornography carries a minimum mandatory sentence of fifteen (15) years imprisonment but not to exceed thirty (30) years, distribution of child pornography may be punished by a term of imprisonment of not less than five (5) years but not to exceed twenty (20) years and knowing possession of child pornography may be punished by a term of imprisonment of up to ten (10) years. Each offense also carries a maximum possible fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment for up to the life of the offender.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The indictment is an allegation only, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at trial or by guilty plea.

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