Tyler Man Guilty of Child Porn

TYLER — A Tyler man has pleaded guilty to child pornography. William Robert Pate, 62, pleaded guilty in Tyler to possessing child pornography before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie. Pate faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to information presented in court, in March, investigators executed a search warrant at Pate’s home for suspected child pornography after images were reported being uploaded to an Internet website from Pate’s IP address. During the investigation, Pate admitted to downloading child pornography over the Internet and consented to a search of his computer. An analysis of the computer revealed approximately 97 images and 7 videos of child pornography. Some of the material depicted children less than 12 years of age engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on April 8, 2010 charging Pate with child pornography violations.