Clear Lake Shores man convicted of multiple offenses involving child sexual abuse material

GALVESTON, Texas - A 45-year-old man has been found guilty of possession of child pornography and access with intent to view it, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

The jury deliberated for less than one hour before convicting Michael Harkless following a two-day trial.

The investigation revealed Harkless had been accessing child pornography since 2009.

Authorities executed a search warrant and seized several electronic devices. Forensic examination revealed approximately 14 videos and nearly 2,000 images containing child sexual abuse material. The videos depicted young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Law enforcement found both laptop computers containing child sexual abuse material in his bedroom closet along with his passport and other items.

The jury heard that Harkless accessed CSAM images on one of the computers before deleting them.

The defense attempted to convince the jury the computers did not belong to Harkless. However, they observed emails, credit card records, letters, chat history and tax records belonging to him on the device.

The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown presided over the trial and afterwards stated he will issue a sentencing date in the near future. Harkless faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine on each of the two counts of conviction.

Previously released on bond, Judge Brown ordered him into custody following the verdict where he will remain pending sentencing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, police departments in Galveston, Clear Lake Shores and Pearland as well as Jones Creek Marshals Office and Houston Metro Internet Crimes against Children Task Force conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Ann Leo and Michael Day are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ's PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.