Lawrence Scott Ward - Repeat Sex offender - Kiddie-porn convict

In 1999, Ward was accused of soliciting sex
from an undercover state trooper
posing as a 15-year-old boy.
He was fined $2,500 and given five years of probation.

Former Marketing professor Scott Ward pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to five child pornography-related charges, and he faces a possible sentence of life in prison.

Ward, 66, admitted guilt to two counts of inducing a minor to engage in sex to create photos or videos, two counts of trafficking child pornography and one count of lying to State Department officials.

His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 19, 2009.

By pleading guilty, Ward admitted that he tried to convince a 16-year-old Brazilian boy to engage in sexual activities and lied to authorities to secure a visa for the boy in 2006.

He is already serving a 15-year sentence in federal prison for producing child pornography for importation in the United States.

Ward did not show emotion throughout the hearing. He only spoke to acknowledge his guilt and his understanding of the rights he was giving up with his guilty plea, simply saying, "Yes, your honor."

While Ward pleaded guilty, he did not receive a plea bargain.

If he receives the maximum sentence and is determined to have multiple prior qualifying conditions - meaning his previous crimes would be taken into consideration at his sentencing - Ward could face life in prison.

At the sentencing hearing, attorneys for the prosecution and the defense will argue before U.S. District Judge Petrese Tucker whether Ward's additional criminal activity constitutes him having one or more of the qualifying conditions that would cause him to receive a heavier sentence.

Given his age and his current prison sentence, Ward may spend the rest of his life in prison regardless of the sentence he receives.

According to the statement read by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bea Witzleben, one of the prosecutors, and confirmed by Ward, Ward persuaded the boy to engage in sexual activities by giving gifts and money to the boy and the boy's mother.

Ward also made three trips to Brazil in 2006 to visit the boy and make sexually explicit videos of the boy.

In summer 2006, Ward tried to get a visa so the boy could go to Ward's house in Cape Cod, Mass.

When the State Department denied the visa, Ward attempted to convince authorities that the boy's family was relatively wealthy in Brazil and would not try to stay in the United States.

Ward was first arrested on Aug. 9, 2006 at Dulles International Airport in Virginia when child pornography was found on his laptop and on DVDs in his suitcases.

Pornography was also later found in his Huntsman Hall office.

Ward retired as a professor in 2005 but continued to teach until his arrest.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"

.........Sarah Tofte