FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO) — A 52-year-old Fort Wayne man has taken a plea deal in a child pornography case.
Joshua Bear pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of possession of child pornography.
The agreement gives him a suspended three-year sentence with probation and no prison time.
If the court approves the deal, a second charge will be dropped.
Investigators say they found thousands of illegal files in Bear’s Dropbox.
A judge will sentence Bear on July 17.
3 comments
His actions have proliferated the suffering of numerous children! He, technically, has destroyed the lives and innocence of the photographed children.
He shouldn’t be presented with leniency! Rather, he should spend lots of time in prison.
…though i have never visited a prison for an extended stay, I have heard rumours. Stories of fellow inmates helping others, “see the errors of their ways”; ESPECIALLY when it comes to child abuse.
Sounds like it could be beneficial to Joshua, in my opinion.
And upon release, Mr. Bear should surely be made to pay for multiple years of psychiatric help!
He has victims, he’s just never been held accountable.
The recent news that Joshua Bear, a 52-year-old Fort Wayne man, has taken a plea deal in a child pornography case, potentially avoiding prison time, is deeply troubling and calls into question the effectiveness of our current sentencing guidelines.
To learn that Mr. Bear, found in possession of thousands of illegal files, could receive a suspended three-year sentence with probation and no incarceration is a profound disservice to justice and, more importantly, to the victims of child exploitation. Such an outcome sends a dangerous message that the gravity of these crimes is not fully recognized or adequately punished.
Possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime; it fuels a horrific industry that abuses, exploits, and traumatizes children. When individuals involved in such egregious offenses are allowed to escape meaningful consequences, it undermines public trust in the judicial system and fails to deter others who might consider engaging in similar illicit activities.
Who knows how many victims he’s created?!!!