Former Marine Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that Daniel Tarchala pled guilty today in federal court in San Diego to an Information charging him with one count of possession of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B). Tarchala entered his guilty plea before Magistrate Judge Barbara L. Major, subject to final acceptance of the plea by United States District Court Judge Marilyn L. Huff, at the time of sentencing.

According to the court records, Tarchala admitted that on or about October 9, 2007, he possessed a computer which contained between 300-600 images of minors, some as young as six years old, engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adults and each other.

Prior to his arrest, Tarchala was an active duty Marine stationed at Miramar Marine Air Station.

Sentencing for Tarchala is scheduled for May 27, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., before Judge Huff.

This case stems from an investigation by the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, whose members include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the San Diego Police Department, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Chula Vista Police Department, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

DEFENDANT Case Number: 08cr0519-H
DANIEL JOSEPH TARCHALA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B) (Possession of Child Pornography)
Maximum Penalty: 10 years’ incarceration, $250,000 fine, a minimum of 5 years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and registration as a sex offender.

AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Naval Criminal Investigative Service

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