Fort Carson Colonel Faces Trial in Child Porn Case

Is disobeying orders the same as committing a crime?

Any violation of federal child pornography law is a serious crime, and convicted offenders face severe statutory penalties. For example, a first time offender convicted of producing child pornography under 18 U.S.C. § 2251, face fines and a statutory minimum of 15 years to 30 years maximum in prison. A first time offender convicted of transporting child pornography in interstate or foreign commerce under 18 U.S.C. § 2252, faces fines and a statutory minimum of 5 years to 20 years maximum in prison. Convicted offenders may face harsher penalties if the offender has prior convictions or if the child pornography offense occurred in aggravated situations defined as (i) the images are violent, sadistic, or masochistic in nature, (ii) the minor was sexually abused, or (iii) the offender has prior convictions for child sexual exploitation. In these circumstances, a convicted offender may face up to life imprisonment.

Fort Carson colonel face trial in child porn case has long military history
The Gazette
By Tom Roeder
August 14, 2015

Court papers say during a three-week period starting in September 2013, O'Mahoney used a computer at an airbase in southwestern Afghanistan for a number of Internet searches, including some querying Russian websites, that raised red flags.

A Fort Carson colonel will face court-martial next month on allegations that he viewed child pornography on his computer while serving in Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. Patrick O'Mahoney, assigned to the 4th Infantry Division's headquarters battalion, is also charged with failing to obey orders for the 2013 incident in Afghanistan. An Army reservist who has spent 30 years in uniform, O'Mahoney was recalled to active duty to face the charges, Fort Carson said.

O'Mahoney is accused of attempting to view child pornography, viewing pornography on a government computer and using a computer to search and view child erotica and child pornography, Fort Carson said Thursday. read more here