James Huskey pleads guilty - "The way to catch a predator is to find another predator first"

Hakes showed a graphic pockmarked with red dots representing the hundreds of locations where authorities have confiscated videos and images in the series since June of this year — the picture does not include those confiscated prior to June 2008.

An international investigation culminated Tuesday in a former LaFayette tennis coach pleading guilty in federal court to creating, distributing and receiving child pornography.

James Bartholomew “Bart” Huskey, 38, is accused of posting videos on the Internet during a period of years. He originally pleaded not guilty July 23.

Huskey appeared before Judge Robert L. Vining Jr. in U.S. District Court in Rome wearing a faded orange Polk County Jail uniform.

With his head down and hands behind his back, he answered “yes sir” to the judge’s questions.


Finally, Huskey straightened up for a brief moment and looked at Vining as he pleaded guilty to all charges.

Huskey is set to be sentenced Feb. 5, 2009, and could face as many as 70 years in prison and a fine as much as $750,000.

The case began when Australian authorities notified the FBI in June 2006 about a group of child pornography traders who used sophisticated security measures to keep from being caught by law enforcement.

In this investigation a particular series, known as the “Tara” series of videos and pictures, came to light, and the FBI aggressively worked to identify the child being abused and tracked down the location of Huskey who was producing and distributing the pictures and videos.

The case was extremely time-sensitive because the images had grown increasingly violent, prosecutors said, with Huskey shown brandishing a knife and using threatening behavior toward the victim.

Huskey was arrested in June and admitted to the abuse and posting images to the internet. The child also identified Huskey as the perpetrator.

During a search of Huskey’s home, the FBI found hundreds upon hundreds of disturbing images on Huskey’s computer, as well as the footage of the “Tara” series and many of the items depicted in images being traded around the world.

“The images in this case are horrific and that doesn’t even begin to describe the images,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Francey Hakes. “This case ranks right up there with the worst I’ve seen in 12 and a half years.”

Hakes showed a graphic pockmarked with red dots representing the hundreds of locations where authorities have confiscated videos and images in the series since June of this year — the picture does not include those confiscated prior to June 2008.

“(The series) is very sought after by people who have the same interests as Mr. Huskey,” she said. “It will be distributed throughout the world for many years to come unfortunately.”

The child is currently in protective custody and has been referred for a wide variety of therapeutic services provided to victims of child sexual abuse, said authorities.

“The guilty plea today of Mr. Huskey helps bring this tragic and twisted crime closer to a close. The rehabilitation and recovery of Mr. Huskey’s juvenile victim is, however, just beginning,” FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Greg Jones said. “The Atlanta Office FBI would like to express its gratitude to the many and varied law enforcement agencies who worked so hard toward this successful outcome.”

The case has a direct link to 15 other child pornographers in Florida, members of which were part of a sophisticated trading ring over the Internet.

Hakes said once a ring is cracked then more often than not, the U.S. Attorneys office will offer plea bargains during interrogation to each of the accused suspects in the alleged ring to turn them against each other.

“The way to catch a predator is to find another predator first,” Hakes said.