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Construction company owner pleads not guilty to child-porn charges

By: Michaela Paukner, [email protected]//November 21, 2019//

Construction company owner pleads not guilty to child-porn charges

By: Michaela Paukner, [email protected]//November 21, 2019//

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The owner of Sonag Construction is pleading not guilty to child-pornography charges.

Prosecutors charged Brian Ganos with three federal child-pornography counts in early November. Court documents said he had 12 images and videos of child porn in his possession, depicting children as young as preschool age.

At Ganos’ plea hearing in the child-pornography case on Thursday, the defense said Ganos chose to remain silent when asked to enter a plea, which resulted in the judge’s entering a not guilty plea. The prosecutor said the government had concerns about Ganos being around his two children, ages 10 and 12.

“He is the primary caregiver for the children,” said Stephen Hurley, Ganos’ defense attorney. “This would be particularly onerous. It would require him to move out of the home.”

Hurley said Ganos’ wife can’t take care of the kids on her own and has unable to for years because of an opioid addiction.

“Frankly, we’re not concerned about the onerousness on the defendant,” said Megan Paulson, attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice. “We’re concerned about safety of children — his own children and children outside of his home.”

The judge decided Ganos could be around his kids, allowing him to take them to and from school and sports practices. But, responding to concerns expressed on both sides, she said she wanted Ganos and his attorney to talk about outside care.

As part of the conditions of his release, Ganos can’t have dealings with minors other than his own kids. He can’t use his phone for anything but calls and texts, and he’s forbidden from using the Internet. He’ll also have to wear a GPS-monitoring device and obey a curfew. His trial is scheduled for Jan. 27.

This is Ganos’ latest legal battle. He’s also awaiting sentencing for a federal fraud case involving his construction company. Prosecutors say he defrauded the federal government of more than $200 million by establishing a web of fake companies to win set-aside contracts. He will appear in court in December for sentencing in this case. He could spend more than six years in prison and be subject to a $5,000 fine.

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