A former Southaven Alderman has been sentenced on child porn charges.
57-year-old Ronald W. Hale was arrested in December for the transportation of child porn from Tennessee to Mississippi. While executing a search warrant, agents found photos and videos involving children on his devices. The warrant was tied to a prostitution charge pending against Hale.
He will now spend the next 7 years in prison after he pled guilty the charge back in April.
Following the sentencing hearing, U.S. Attorney William Lamar noted that these crimes must continue to be brought to light.
“There is sometimes a misconception that child pornography is a victimless crime and that no one is injured by those who merely view or exchange it. This could not be further from the truth. Every day, there are children in our country who are victimized and tortured by those individuals who use them to produce, record and distribute graphic sexual images as a means of pleasure or entertainment. Individuals who choose to view and transport those images provide a market for these unconscionable and illegal acts, and re-victimize those children each time it is shared or viewed. We must continue to protect these vulnerable child victims by holding accountable those who produce, distribute or view child pornography.”
Hale had been elected as an Alderman twice and resigned following his arrest in December.
