Sand Mountain Reporter

Federal prosecutors took aim at crimes against children this week, securing indictments in a Birmingham federal court.

Daniel Nathan Fortenberry, 19, of Guntersville, was indicted on two counts of possession and distribution of child pornography.

Ralph Wilson Knight, 46, of Doraville, Ga., was indicted for coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct.

The indictments of Fortenberry and Knight were not related.

Prosecutors allege Knight communicated with a minor in DeKalb County over the telephone and via the Internet to entice and coerce the minor to engage in “unlawful sexual activities.”

A criminal complaint was filed against Knight on Jan. 19, and he was arrested that day. He is in federal custody without a bond.

“The maximum penalty Knight is facing is not less than 10 years’ imprisonment or not more than life imprisonment,” DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris said. “Knight is in custody today due to the hard work of law enforcement and the agencies involved working together.”

Alice H. Martin, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, said parents should be vigilant about their children’s activities.

“I encourage parents to continually monitor the online activity of their children and be vigilant for sexual predators who may be attempting to target their children through social networking Web sites such as myspace.com,” Martin said.

Fortenberry faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment for possession of child pornography.

He faces a prison term of between five and 20 years for distribution of child pornography.

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Serving Albertville and the Sand Mountain region

Publisher: Ben Shurett

1603 Progress Drive
Albertville, Alabama 35950

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