TEXARKANA, Texas - A 25-year-old man is facing charges of child pornography receipt and possession in a Texarkana federal court.
Francisco Leija-Hernandez was indicted by a grand jury July 24 in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas. The indictment's first count charges him with receiving an approximately 29-minute video which depicts a prepubescent boy performing sexual acts.
"During this video, it appears that the child is communicating with someone via the Skype application," the indictment states. "The watermark 'Skype' can be seen in the top right corner of the screen."
The indictments second count charges Leija-Hernandez with possession of child pornography and lists four separate videos allegedly found on Leija-Hernandez's computer equipment.
The videos all include prepubescent children, three of which are male and one of which is female. One of the videos shows the sexual victimization of a toddler.
Another video allegedly depicts a young boy being sexually assaulted while handcuffs bind his hands to his feet. Still another of the disturbing clips shows a nude boy wearing a mask inside a dog cage.
Leija-Hernandez pleaded not guilty to the charges at a hearing Aug. 1 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven in Texarkana's downtown federal building with the help of Texarkana lawyer Jeff Harrelson. Harrelson waived the issue of detention in the case and Leija-Hernandez remains in custody.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Hornok filed a motion to unseal the case which was granted Monday.
Longview, Texas, lawyer Jason Cassel filed an appearance in the case Tuesday as Leija-Hernandez's legal counsel.
Leija-Hernandez's indictment includes notice from the government of its intent to seek his forfeiture of a laptop computer, a hard drive and two flash drives.
If found guilty of receiving child pornography, Leija-Hernandez faces five to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. If found guilty of possessing child pornography Leija-Hernandez faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. Both crimes include a period of supervision by federal authorities following release from prison which could last five years to life.
The case is scheduled for jury selection before U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder III.