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Valrico Man Convicted Of Child Porn Charges

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 12, 2009

TAMPA - A 27-year-old Valrico man was convicted today of federal child pornography charges for taking 34 graphic photographs of a 16-year-old relative.

Robert D. Paige was found guilty by U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew in a non-jury trial in which no testimony was taken. Both sides stipulated to a written summary of the facts that would come out if evidence were to be introduced.

Paige admitted he had two photo sessions with the victim, who told authorities there were three sessions. The victim also stated that Paige intended to use the photos to create a web site to pay a $2,000 cell phone bill. Paige denied planning to create a web site.

Paige also told authorities he vomited after the second photo session and deleted the photos. Although the photos had been deleted, the FBI was able to recover them.

Paige waived his right to a trial by jury, telling Bucklew, "I don't feel I should waste their time."

When asked why he was in court, he said, "Because of a bad mistake that I made."

Although Paige and his attorney, Adam Tannebaum, conceded that the facts were sufficient for him to be guilty of the charges, he did not plead guilty because he plans to ask an appeals court to rule that the laws under which he was charged are unconstitutional. "The only reason we're here at all today," Tannebaum told Bucklew, "is to preserve our appellate rights."

He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, up to a maximum of 30 years in federal prison on the first count, and up to 10 years on the second. Sentencing was scheduled for June 2.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.

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