'Stunned' over child porn case -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY

'Stunned' over child porn case -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY: "ALBANY � Members of Albany County Young Democrats are 'shocked and disturbed' at the revelation that the former president of the organization, Benjamin Jakes-Johnson, spent almost four years facing child pornography charges while rising through the ranks of the local group, as well as the party's state and national affiliates."

Jakes-Johnson, 29, received a 57-month sentence in U.S. District Court Thursday after pleading guilty last October to one count of possessing child pornography.

According to the office of the U.S. Attorney for New York's Northern District, Jakes-Johnson's computer and several discs were seized in October 2005 at his parents' house in Syracuse. Forensic analysis ultimately uncovered more than 80 images and a video of "minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct."

After his release, Jakes-Johnson will remain under supervision for life, and will have to register as a sex offender.

Following the execution of the search warrant, Jakes-Johnson agreed to cooperate with investigators by allowing them to use his online identity to track down another consumer of child porn who had told Jakes-Johnson online that he was molesting his own son. No arrest was ever made in that case.

Matthew Peter, the Albany County Young Democrats' new president, issued a statement Friday afternoon that said the charges "were previously unknown to the organization."

"While we are still becoming aware of the circumstances surrounding this case, we are very concerned that these charges were not revealed to the organization at their onset," Peter wrote. "(The) actions of one individual will not, and do not, define this organization and its many dedicated members."

The county organization currently includes more than 40 members.