Lambert case moves to Hamilton County
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
Former Highland County CVB (County Visitors Bureau) director and Hillsboro city commissions member Bob Lambert was indicted on four felony charges by a Hamilton County grand jury Wednesday, Sept. 21. As of Monday, Oct. 3, Lambert was transferred from the Highland County Justice Center where he had been incarcerated since his August arrest.
According to Hillsboro Police Chief Todd Whited, Lambert was indicted on the following counts:
• Production and attempted production of child pornography (two counts);
• Distribution of child pornography; and
• Possession of child pornography.
According to the United States Code 18:2251(a) and (e), the counts of production and attempted production of child pornography apply to “any person who employs, uses, persuades, induces, entices or coerces any minor to engage in, or who has a minor assist any other person to engage in, or who transports any minor in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, with the intent that such minor engage in, any sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct or for the purpose of transmitting a live visual depiction of such conduct.”
The U.S. Code states that this count carries a prison sentence of up to 30 years.
The count of distribution of child pornography, under U.S. Code 18:2252(a)(2) and 2252(b)(1), applies to “knowingly receives, or distributes, any visual depiction using any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce or that has been mailed, or has been shipped or transported in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or which contains materials which have been mailed or so shipped or transported, by any means including by computer, or knowingly reproduces any visual depiction for distribution using any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce or in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or through the mails, if— (A) the producing of such visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; and (B) such visual depiction is of such conduct.”
Violation of this law carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
The fourth count, possession of child pornography, applies to an individual who “knowingly possesses, or knowingly accesses with intent to view, 1 or more books, magazines, periodicals, films, video tapes, or other matter which contain any visual depiction,” or who “knowingly possesses, or knowingly accesses with intent to view, 1 or more books, magazines, periodicals, films, video tapes, or other matter which contain any visual depiction,” of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
According to US Code 18:2252(b)(2), “whoever violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, paragraph (4) of subsection (a) shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both, but if any visual depiction involved in the offense involved a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age, such person shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or if such person has a prior conviction under this chapter, chapter 71, chapter 109A, or chapter 117, or under section 920 of title 10 (article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), or under the laws of any State relating to aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, or abusive sexual conduct involving a minor or ward, or the production, possession, receipt, mailing, sale, distribution, shipment, or transportation of child pornography, such person shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not less than 10 years nor more than 20 years.”
As previously reported in The Highland County Press, local law enforcement confirmed Sept. 15 that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is now the lead investigative authority in the Lambert case, with evidence taken to the FBI’s Cincinnati office.
It was reported on Aug. 18 that two criminal charges against Lambert had been sent to a Highland County grand jury, following his preliminary hearing Thursday, Aug. 18 in Hillsboro Municipal Court.
A Highland County grand jury was convened Tuesday, Sept. 13. However, Lambert was not among those indicted.
Hillsboro Police Chief Todd Whited said that as the investigation developed, there was probable cause for the FBI to offer its assistance.
The Cincinnati office of the FBI said it does not comment on pending investigations.
Lambert was arrested at his East Main Street home in Hillsboro on Tuesday, Aug. 9 and was charged with illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, a second-degree felony; and pandering obscenity with a minor, a fifth-degree felony.
“If you are convicted [of the second-degree felony], that would carry up to eight years in the penitentiary and a fine of up to $20,000,” Hillsboro Municipal Court Judge David H. McKenna told Lambert at his arraignment Aug. 10.
Lambert told McKenna that he had understood the charges and asked the court to appoint an attorney for him. Hillsboro attorney J.D. Wagoner was representing Lambert initially.
According to U.S. District Court, Adam B. Bleile is now representing Lambert.
Lambert was terminated Tuesday, Aug. 9 as director of the CVB by board president Tom Horst.
Lambert also was appointed by Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings to serve on the Hillsboro Planning Commission and the Hillsboro Civil Service Commission.
In letters dated June 23 – but stamped received by the city on June 22 – Lambert submitted his resignation from the two city commissions, stating he resigned "due to increasing constraints on my time and other life events."
Both resignations were effective July 1. However, Lambert answered the roll call and voted during the July 18 Hillsboro Planning Commission meeting.
Prior to his arrest, Lambert had posted on social media that he was moving to Florida. He was arrested not long after that post.
According to Hillsboro Police Chief Todd Whited, Lambert was indicted on the following counts:
• Production and attempted production of child pornography (two counts);
• Distribution of child pornography; and
• Possession of child pornography.
According to the United States Code 18:2251(a) and (e), the counts of production and attempted production of child pornography apply to “any person who employs, uses, persuades, induces, entices or coerces any minor to engage in, or who has a minor assist any other person to engage in, or who transports any minor in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, with the intent that such minor engage in, any sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct or for the purpose of transmitting a live visual depiction of such conduct.”
The U.S. Code states that this count carries a prison sentence of up to 30 years.
The count of distribution of child pornography, under U.S. Code 18:2252(a)(2) and 2252(b)(1), applies to “knowingly receives, or distributes, any visual depiction using any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce or that has been mailed, or has been shipped or transported in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or which contains materials which have been mailed or so shipped or transported, by any means including by computer, or knowingly reproduces any visual depiction for distribution using any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce or in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or through the mails, if— (A) the producing of such visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; and (B) such visual depiction is of such conduct.”
Violation of this law carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
The fourth count, possession of child pornography, applies to an individual who “knowingly possesses, or knowingly accesses with intent to view, 1 or more books, magazines, periodicals, films, video tapes, or other matter which contain any visual depiction,” or who “knowingly possesses, or knowingly accesses with intent to view, 1 or more books, magazines, periodicals, films, video tapes, or other matter which contain any visual depiction,” of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
According to US Code 18:2252(b)(2), “whoever violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, paragraph (4) of subsection (a) shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both, but if any visual depiction involved in the offense involved a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age, such person shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or if such person has a prior conviction under this chapter, chapter 71, chapter 109A, or chapter 117, or under section 920 of title 10 (article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), or under the laws of any State relating to aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, or abusive sexual conduct involving a minor or ward, or the production, possession, receipt, mailing, sale, distribution, shipment, or transportation of child pornography, such person shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not less than 10 years nor more than 20 years.”
As previously reported in The Highland County Press, local law enforcement confirmed Sept. 15 that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is now the lead investigative authority in the Lambert case, with evidence taken to the FBI’s Cincinnati office.
It was reported on Aug. 18 that two criminal charges against Lambert had been sent to a Highland County grand jury, following his preliminary hearing Thursday, Aug. 18 in Hillsboro Municipal Court.
A Highland County grand jury was convened Tuesday, Sept. 13. However, Lambert was not among those indicted.
Hillsboro Police Chief Todd Whited said that as the investigation developed, there was probable cause for the FBI to offer its assistance.
The Cincinnati office of the FBI said it does not comment on pending investigations.
Lambert was arrested at his East Main Street home in Hillsboro on Tuesday, Aug. 9 and was charged with illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, a second-degree felony; and pandering obscenity with a minor, a fifth-degree felony.
“If you are convicted [of the second-degree felony], that would carry up to eight years in the penitentiary and a fine of up to $20,000,” Hillsboro Municipal Court Judge David H. McKenna told Lambert at his arraignment Aug. 10.
Lambert told McKenna that he had understood the charges and asked the court to appoint an attorney for him. Hillsboro attorney J.D. Wagoner was representing Lambert initially.
According to U.S. District Court, Adam B. Bleile is now representing Lambert.
Lambert was terminated Tuesday, Aug. 9 as director of the CVB by board president Tom Horst.
Lambert also was appointed by Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings to serve on the Hillsboro Planning Commission and the Hillsboro Civil Service Commission.
In letters dated June 23 – but stamped received by the city on June 22 – Lambert submitted his resignation from the two city commissions, stating he resigned "due to increasing constraints on my time and other life events."
Both resignations were effective July 1. However, Lambert answered the roll call and voted during the July 18 Hillsboro Planning Commission meeting.
Prior to his arrest, Lambert had posted on social media that he was moving to Florida. He was arrested not long after that post.