Former LA Neighborhood Commission Head Pleads Guilty To Child Porn Charges
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The former head of a Los Angeles city commission pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges of distribution of child pornography.
As part of a plea agreement, 64-year-old Albert N. Abrams acknowledged collecting more than 600 images of child pornography over the course of more than 10 years.
After his house was searched in 2011, he told CBS2/KCAL9 Investigative Report David Goldstein that a now-excised tumor on his spine left him with a split personality that compelled him to do what normally would have been out of character.
Goldstein spoke to Abrams Friday as he walked into the courthouse.
"Will you admit you lied to me when you said that a tumor made you watch kiddie porn," Goldstein said.
To which Abrams replied, "Absolutely not."
Abrams was charged last February in an eight-count indictment that accused him of distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography.
The collection contained images of children under 12, including infants, "engaging in sexually explicit conduct" and portraying "sadistic or masochistic" activity, according to the agreement filed in Los Angeles federal court.
Abrams didn't speak at the hearing other than to respond to the judge's questions, including whether he understood the rights he was giving up.
"I plead guilty, sir," Abrams said when U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner asked.
In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors will recommend Abrams receive a sentence of between five and eight years in prison, lifetime supervised release, and a fine of $5,000, court papers show.
Klausner allowed Abrams to remain free on bond pending sentencing Dec. 10.
Abrams resigned in August 2011 as president of the seven-member Board of Neighborhood Commissioners, which oversees the neighborhood councils that link local communities with Los Angeles City Hall.
According to an affidavit filed in support of a search warrant, federal authorities looking into a peer-to-peer file-sharing network were able to download more than 150 videos and images depicting child porn from a computer at Abrams' house.
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