Cedar Park Man Found Guilty of Producing Child Pornography

AUSTIN, Texas - A federal jury convicted a Cedar Park man for four counts related to the production and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Scott Joseph Kopas, 55, was initially the subject of an FBI investigation into online child pornography activities. Upon executing a search warrant at Kopas's Cedar Park residence and a hotel in Hawaii where he was vacationing, FBI agents recovered several computers and digital devices.

The computer evidence introduced at trial revealed that Kopas produced CSAM using several hidden cameras in bathrooms and a bedroom in the residence. The CSAM depicted two minor females undressing and showering. Kopas created additional CSAM depicting the minors by editing their faces onto numerous images of nude adults and children.

In addition to the CSAM he produced, Kopas possessed hundreds of thousands of images and videos of CSAM. Furthermore, evidence presented at trial included photos of three child sex dolls found in Kopas's bedroom closet, along with evidence proving that Kopas purchased them from a Chinese company.

The evidence also showed that a few years before the search of his residence, a camera was found hidden in a minor female's bedroom. The camera was turned over to police by the victim, and in an unrelated civil deposition, Kopas admitted to installing the camera.

On Wednesday, Kopas was convicted of three counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.

"We take every case involving children incredibly seriously and this trial is no exception," said U.S. Attorney Simmons. "I appreciate the investigative work of our partners at FBI here in Texas and Hawaii, as well as the U.S. Attorney's Office in Honolulu for their assistance. Americans may not realize how much teamwork and resources go into a successful trial-from Assistant U.S. Attorneys and legal assistants to litigation support specialists and victim witness specialists-but the American people can take confidence in the fact that we have some of the best public servants this country has to offer pushing back against this and so many other forms of darkness in a consistent and concerted effort to make our country one where Americans can live their lives, enjoy the blessings of liberty, and pursue happiness."

"Children are our nation's most valuable asset," said FBI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Daniel Faith. "The FBI is dedicated to defending children from sexual exploitation by holding child pornography producers and consumers accountable."

FBI San Antonio investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii and FBI Honolulu provided valuable assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Devlin and Kiera Kilday are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

###