*** MEDIA ADVISORY*** October 16, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMedia Contact: Curtis T. Hill, Jr., 296-1888 NAPPANEE MAN CHARGED IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY A Nappanee man has been charged with five (5) counts of possession of child pornography, each a Class D Felony, punishable up to three (3) years in prison on each count. John Leroy Dye, age 61, of Nappanee, turned himself in on October 8, 2007, and was released on $50,000 bond. Dye came to the attention of law enforcement following an August 12, 2007, incident where a witness identified a man taking videos of children at Silver Beach in St. Joseph, Michigan. The witness confronted the man and later followed the man obtaining an Indiana license plate number, which was turned over to law enforcement officials along with a detailed account of the event. The license plate was registered to John Dye of Nappanee, Elkhart County, Indiana. The investigation was handled by the FBI and the Nappanee Police Department. Through the investigation, Nappanee Detective Dana Hollar was able to retrieve from Dye's home, photographs of what appeared to depict or strongly suggest sexual activity on the part of pre-pubescent children. Under Indiana law, child pornography is defined as andquot;a person who knowingly possesses a photograph or digitized image that depicts or describes sexual conduct by a child who is less than 16 years of age, or appears to be less than 16 years of age, and that lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific valueandquot;. andquot;Child pornography is disturbing on many levels. It is disturbing that children are depicted in abusive situations and it is disturbing that there are those among us who derive gratification from the exploitation of childrenandquot;, said Prosecuting Attorney, Curtis T. Hill, Jr. andquot;Child pornography is a nasty business and my office looks forward to Mr. Dye addressing these allegations in courtandquot;, said Hill. Dye is scheduled for a hearing in the Elkhart Superior Court No. 3 before Judge George Biddlecome, on Thursday, October 18, 2007. andquot;Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of lawandquot;