Posted October 27, 2003.

Florida Patron Charged with Trafficking in Child Porn

A registered sex offender was denied bail October 20 while awaiting trial on charges of sending images of child pornography using Charlotte County (Fla.) Public Library computers. Arrested October 16, Richard Edward Brillhart, 23, had been the target of a sting investigation since June and was videotaped October 10 at CCPL’s Murdock library workstation while allegedly viewing child pornography and masturbating, FBI Special Agent John Kuchta claimed in a criminal complaint affidavit. The machine is located near the children’s section.

In declaring Brillhart a threat to the community, U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas N. Frazier characterized the defendant’s behavior as “flagrant” since libraries are “open to all sorts of people, including children,” according to the October 22 Fort Myers News-Press. If convicted, Brillhart could receive a sentence of up to 15 years.

Convicted when he was 19 for having sexual relations with a minor and subsequently arrested twice for violating his parole, Brillhart has allegedly posted hundreds of images of child pornography online and is accused of unwittingly giving Kuchta and U.S. Postal Inspector Frank Graham of St. Louis access to what Kuchta characterized as “pictures depicting bondage and sadomasochism” that include adults engaged in sex acts with children as young as infants and toddlers.

Posted October 27, 2003.