A former Texas congressional staffer to U.S. Representative Joe Barton (R-Texas) has pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly receiving child pornography. He attempted to forward these images to his official U.S. House of Representatives email account.
James Maines, Jr. (54 yoa), admitted that in November 2012 he attempted to forward five child pornography images from his email account to his U.S. House of Representatives email account. Maines is from Mesquite, Texas.
Maines appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David L. Horan of the Northern District in Dallas.
The former congressional staffer admitted that he had received these and other child pornography images from the Internet.
A forensic investigation into Maines’ computer revealed a number of child pornography images. Some of these were downloaded as early as 2004.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) field offices in Dallas and Washington, D.C. investigated the case.
The case was part of a nationwide initiative, called “Project Safe Childhood,” designed to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. It was started by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2006. Federal, state, and local resources are used to locate, apprehend, and prosecute persons who engage in activities that exploit children. The project also works to identify and rescue victims.
The Project Safe Childhood website states that it is the “first ever National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction” for the DOJ.
Maines worked for Rep. Joe Barton from February 2006 until December 2014.
Barton is a Republican representing the 6th congressional district which includes Ellis County, Navarro County, and a portion of Tarrant County, and includes the cities of Arlington and Fort Worth.
In a statement obtained by Breitbart Texas, Rep. Barton said, “James Maines Jr. has pled guilty to a federal criminal charge. I and my office have cooperated with law enforcement officials investigating the matter. Mr. Maines is no longer a member of my staff.”
Maines is scheduled to reappear in court on March 16, 2016, to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade of the Northern District of Texas.
Lana Shadwick is a contributing writer and legal analyst for Breitbart Texas. She has served as an associate judge and prosecutor. Follow her on Twitter @LanaShadwick2
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