COURT BRIEFS: January 8th

Man Guilty of Making Child Porn

A 66-year-old Madison County man pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to two of 10 counts of inducing two 13-year-old girls to engage in sexually explicit conduct in order to make pornography.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office was contacted in August by a person who reported two 13-year-olds had been sexually assaulted by James Hanna, according to the plea agreement. The girls told police Hanna had been taking nude, sexually explicit photographs of them.

Hanna confessed in an interview with police to taking the photos.

He faces 15 to 30 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. He also faces probation of five years to life after release and will be required to register as a sex offender.

The agreement is not binding on U.S. District Judge Jimm Hendren, who is hearing the case. Hanna will be sentenced at a later date.

His plea bargain with federal prosecutors called for the forfeiture of camera and computer equipment used to make the videos.

Hanna is being held in the Washington County Jail with no bond set.

Fayetteville Resident Sold Meth

A 31-year-old Fayetteville man pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing more than five grams of methamphetamine.

Jose Jorge Vasquez-Gallardo pleaded guilty in a plea bargain with prosecutors to one count of a five-count indictment. He faces five to 40 years in prison, fines of up to $5 million and possible deportation.

Vasquez-Gallardo pleaded guilty to selling a mixture containing just more than 13 grams of methamphetamine for $950 to a confidential informant in November 2011.

The agreement is not binding on U.S. District Judge Jimm Hendren, who is hearing the case. Vasquez-Gallardo will be sentenced at a later date.

— STAFF REPORT

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