Pleas entered in child porn case

WINCHESTER -- A Frederick County man entered Alford pleas of guilty Friday morning on charges he solicited a 14-year-old girl to take nude photos of herself.

Douglas Edward Kelly, 51, of 2352 Siler Road, was indicted by a Frederick County Circuit Court grand jury in December on one count of pornography production and two counts of child pornography possession.

As part of a plea agreement, Kelly entered Alford pleas to all three charges Friday. An Alford plea maintains innocence while acknowledging prosecutors have enough evidence to make a conviction.

Commonwealth's Attorney Glenn R. Williamson recounted details of the case to Circuit Court Judge John R. Prosser.

Kelly was living with the girl's grandmother in 2007, Williamson said, when Kelly allegedly asked the girl for nude photos in exchange for allowing her to have a friend over.

"The defendant said her friend couldn't come over unless she took some pictures for him," Williamson said.

A forensic examination of a computer seized from the home revealed two such photos that had been erased, Williamson said.

Kelly and his attorney, Paul Thomson, did not object to Williamson's statement. Prosser confirmed with Williamson that the girl was satisfied with terms of the plea agreement.

Kelly remains free on bond, and has a sentencing hearing scheduled for Sept. 23.

Daily Staff Report