The United States Attorney's Office

Western District of Virginia

NEWS RELEASE

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA

John L. Brownlee

United States Attorney

Heidi Coy

Public Affairs Specialist BB&T Building

310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906

Roanoke, Virginia 24011

(540) 857-2250

FAX (540) 857-2180

January 8, 2007

CHARLOTTESVILLE MAN INDICTED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that Kevin Alfred Strom, age 50, of Charlottesville, Virginia, was indicted by a federal Grand Jury sitting in Charlottesville, Virginia on January 3, 2007.

Strom was charged in a two count indictment with Possession of Child Pornography and Obstruction of Justice. According to the indictment, between October 17, 2005 and August 4, 2006, Strom had multiple images of child pornography on his computer that had been transported in interstate commerce. The Grand Jury has further alleged that Strom physically assaulted and mentally intimidated a witness in an attempt to prevent that witness from reporting Strom’s ongoing criminal activity.

If convicted on all counts, the maximum penalty faced by the defendant is 30 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $500,000.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Green County Sheriff’s Office, and Charlottesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Gould will prosecute the case.

A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.