Nickolas Parnell, 27, formerly of Boise, and currently living in Medford, Oregon, pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Boise to possession of child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael Gonzalez said.
According to the court documents, in May of last year, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force agents served a search warrant on Parnell’s Boise home, based on information they received that Parnell had used a computer to access child porn.
When agents examined the Parnell’s two laptops and two DVDs, they discovered 2,190 still images and three videos containing child porn.
Then, last February, agents served another search warrant on Parnell’s Boise home, based upon evidence he was in possession of additional videos containing child porn. A forensic search of his laptop revealed 3,393 saved images of child pornography, 13 videos containing child porn, and 3,077 deleted images containing child porn.
In all, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children identified 290 still images and one video contained known child porn victims.
Sentencing for Parnell set for September 1, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.
Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than five years and up to life, and a $5,000 special assessment. As part of his plea, Parnell also agreed to forfeit the computers and electronic storage devices used in the commission of the crimes.
