Jeter sentenced to six year on child porn charges
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A Hillsboro man who pleaded guilty to two charges related to child pornography has been sentenced to six years in prison.
During the sentencing hearing in Highland County Common Pleas Court Wednesday, the defendant, Dana Jeter, 52, addressed the court, saying that he didn't understand an Internet file sharing program where he obtained the graphic images of children, and that "it wasn't my responsibility."
Judge Rocky Coss said that he was offended by Jeter's statements to the court, which Coss felt was a warning to other people who consume such material.
"What you're saying is, 'Perverts, beware,'" Coss told Jeter.
Jeter's attorney Justin Gray told the court that Jeter had been prepared to fully defend himself on the charges, but when he heard the defense strategy, he sought out the plea agreement. Gray indicated that Jeter's defense would have alleged other people who lived in the house, not the defendant, had utilized the computer.
Coss said that he was glad to to hear that such a defense was not used, especially if it was not true.
"That would be a despicable defense if it were not true," Coss said. "It's the right thing to do, to not blame innocent people, particularly family members."
Jeter spoke during the hearing, telling the court that he had been considered a person of character and had some respect in the community, and he hoped to some day earn that back.
Jeter, a physical therapist, was indicted in January on 17 counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, all felonies of the second degree. As a result of pleading guilty to two of the counts, the remaining 15 counts were dismissed.
Gray said that Jeter has lost his therapist license permanently, that his family lost their home, and he had been working on a PhD program when he was charged.
During a motion to suppress hearing in July, Det. Dave Frattare, of the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) out of Cuyahoga County, testified that the investigation into Jeter's computer initiated when he saw an IP (Internet Protocol) address (a number assigned to individual computers, unique to that device) that was ultimately identified as Jeter's was listed in a database as having downloaded material and used keywords relating to child pornography.
Frattare testified that he used a software program called Roundup and searched files on a software-sharing network known as "Gnutella." Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins said that the file sharing system is similar to systems people use to download music, only in this case, the items downloaded were pornographic images of children.
Jeter told the court Wednesday that he wanted to explain what happened, and said that he didn't understand what "peer to peer" file sharing was. He said that on the date in December 2010 when the images were downloaded, he was looking at "adult material" and he claimed he didn't know what the images he downloaded were going to be.
"The images were, really, very bad," Jeter said. "Many, I didn't open. I wish I had never opened the rest. I wish I had never went there. I wish I could have gotten rid of them off my computer. I had other things to protect on my computer, patient files, billing, electronic medical records. I didn't know what to do with this particular thing."
Jeter said he didn't have any files he intended to share, but the program he signed up for allowed for public file sharing.
"It wasn't my responsibility. Even though I went there ... it was there. I was the one that opened the stuff," Jeter said. "The intent never was to have this material go to anyone. It was a tragedy that this went to - and the only place that it did go was to the officer in Cuyahoga County. It was a very quick time frame from the first time this happened to the time that I was arrested. I would just strongly advise anyone to look at peer to peer very carefully about what they are signing up for."
The toll his family has paid for these actions have been great, Jeter said, including the loss of a community.
"I had a lot of respect. A lot of trust. There's a lot of trust that goes along with someone who comes in and tells you all their problems and they don't even know you," Jeter said. "Hopefully, someday, I can get that back."
Coss said that Jeter was not taking responsibility for the crimes he pleaded guilty to.
"What is disturbing to the court is that you've talked about your failures as an individual, and what the consequences are, and what you hope to do with your life, and that's all well and good," Coss said. "The problem I see here is that you haven't acknowledged anything regarding why you did this or what it is. Because it's against the law to have these things. It's amazing to me the number of people out there that apparently take these and put them on the Internet. It's more amazing to me that people look at them. I don't know what your issues are, but you have some very serious issues. You've talked completely around this."
While the defendant said that he wished that he could have gotten rid of the images and that other people should beware of file-sharing sites, Coss said that was not being responsible for his actions."
"What you're saying is, 'Perverts, beware. Don't get caught,'" Coss said. "I find that offensive."
Coss sentenced Jeter to three years in prison on each of the counts, to be served consecutively to each other, for a total of six years.
That is one year more than the recommendation of the state. Coss said that he did not follow the plea recommendation because, "your comments. They're offensive, and as a person who has a problem, you need to be looking at that."
Jeter is also ordered to register as a Tier II sex offender.
Coss ordered that Jeter be taken into custody by the Highland County Sheriff's Office to begin serving the sentence immediately.
A Hillsboro man who pleaded guilty to two charges related to child pornography has been sentenced to six years in prison.
During the sentencing hearing in Highland County Common Pleas Court Wednesday, the defendant, Dana Jeter, 52, addressed the court, saying that he didn't understand an Internet file sharing program where he obtained the graphic images of children, and that "it wasn't my responsibility."
Judge Rocky Coss said that he was offended by Jeter's statements to the court, which Coss felt was a warning to other people who consume such material.
"What you're saying is, 'Perverts, beware,'" Coss told Jeter.
Jeter's attorney Justin Gray told the court that Jeter had been prepared to fully defend himself on the charges, but when he heard the defense strategy, he sought out the plea agreement. Gray indicated that Jeter's defense would have alleged other people who lived in the house, not the defendant, had utilized the computer.
Coss said that he was glad to to hear that such a defense was not used, especially if it was not true.
"That would be a despicable defense if it were not true," Coss said. "It's the right thing to do, to not blame innocent people, particularly family members."
Jeter spoke during the hearing, telling the court that he had been considered a person of character and had some respect in the community, and he hoped to some day earn that back.
Jeter, a physical therapist, was indicted in January on 17 counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, all felonies of the second degree. As a result of pleading guilty to two of the counts, the remaining 15 counts were dismissed.
Gray said that Jeter has lost his therapist license permanently, that his family lost their home, and he had been working on a PhD program when he was charged.
During a motion to suppress hearing in July, Det. Dave Frattare, of the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) out of Cuyahoga County, testified that the investigation into Jeter's computer initiated when he saw an IP (Internet Protocol) address (a number assigned to individual computers, unique to that device) that was ultimately identified as Jeter's was listed in a database as having downloaded material and used keywords relating to child pornography.
Frattare testified that he used a software program called Roundup and searched files on a software-sharing network known as "Gnutella." Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins said that the file sharing system is similar to systems people use to download music, only in this case, the items downloaded were pornographic images of children.
Jeter told the court Wednesday that he wanted to explain what happened, and said that he didn't understand what "peer to peer" file sharing was. He said that on the date in December 2010 when the images were downloaded, he was looking at "adult material" and he claimed he didn't know what the images he downloaded were going to be.
"The images were, really, very bad," Jeter said. "Many, I didn't open. I wish I had never opened the rest. I wish I had never went there. I wish I could have gotten rid of them off my computer. I had other things to protect on my computer, patient files, billing, electronic medical records. I didn't know what to do with this particular thing."
Jeter said he didn't have any files he intended to share, but the program he signed up for allowed for public file sharing.
"It wasn't my responsibility. Even though I went there ... it was there. I was the one that opened the stuff," Jeter said. "The intent never was to have this material go to anyone. It was a tragedy that this went to - and the only place that it did go was to the officer in Cuyahoga County. It was a very quick time frame from the first time this happened to the time that I was arrested. I would just strongly advise anyone to look at peer to peer very carefully about what they are signing up for."
The toll his family has paid for these actions have been great, Jeter said, including the loss of a community.
"I had a lot of respect. A lot of trust. There's a lot of trust that goes along with someone who comes in and tells you all their problems and they don't even know you," Jeter said. "Hopefully, someday, I can get that back."
Coss said that Jeter was not taking responsibility for the crimes he pleaded guilty to.
"What is disturbing to the court is that you've talked about your failures as an individual, and what the consequences are, and what you hope to do with your life, and that's all well and good," Coss said. "The problem I see here is that you haven't acknowledged anything regarding why you did this or what it is. Because it's against the law to have these things. It's amazing to me the number of people out there that apparently take these and put them on the Internet. It's more amazing to me that people look at them. I don't know what your issues are, but you have some very serious issues. You've talked completely around this."
While the defendant said that he wished that he could have gotten rid of the images and that other people should beware of file-sharing sites, Coss said that was not being responsible for his actions."
"What you're saying is, 'Perverts, beware. Don't get caught,'" Coss said. "I find that offensive."
Coss sentenced Jeter to three years in prison on each of the counts, to be served consecutively to each other, for a total of six years.
That is one year more than the recommendation of the state. Coss said that he did not follow the plea recommendation because, "your comments. They're offensive, and as a person who has a problem, you need to be looking at that."
Jeter is also ordered to register as a Tier II sex offender.
Coss ordered that Jeter be taken into custody by the Highland County Sheriff's Office to begin serving the sentence immediately.
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