Abston Sentenced In Child Pornography Case

Friday, August 31st 2007, 6:16 am

By: News On 6

He's accused of molesting more than two-dozen children, and heâ€™s pleaded guilty to having and distributing child pornography, now 56-year-old David Abston will be going to prison. The News On 6 Steve Berg was in the courtroom Friday. He reports Abston was sentenced at the federal level on the porn charges.

Just on the federal crimes of child pornography, Abston will be going to prison for a long time. A judge sentenced him to 30-years on Friday. That's the maximum sentence recommended by federal guidelines. Meanwhile, the state charges of child molesting are still pending. The News On 6 spoke with the mother of one of those children outside the courthouse on Friday.

"I never really thought there was evil out there, but I think this is a form of evil," said the mother of one of Abstonâ€™s alleged victims.

The mother, who did not want us to use her name, says she wanted to see the sentencing for herself. She told The News On 6 she feels like she failed her child by letting Abston into her lives, and says this was one way she could do justice to the situation. But the man she says once ingratiated himself with her family was ignoring her today.

"He wouldn't look at me. I tried to get him to look at me. I don't know why he wouldn't, because he's apparently very arrogant," she said.

Abston gave no insights to anyone else about his crime either. Judge James Payne asked Abston if he wanted to address the court, but Abston said no.

The judge took several factors into account when determining Abston's punishment. He mentioned the sheer amount of child pornography on Abston's computer, which included hundreds of still pictures and videos. He also agreed with the prosecution, which said Abston had tried to elude authorities before he was arrested at a Bixby movie theater with a gun and a large amount of cash. And the judge said the prosecution had shown, through a preponderance of evidence, that child abuse was a "pattern of conduct" for Abston.

The mother of Abstonâ€™s alleged victim thinks his punishment should be worse.

"I thought lethal injection. They say that's probably the worst," she said.

Abston must serve at least 85% of his federal sentence. He would be 81-years-old before he would be eligible for parole.

Fridayâ€™s sentencing was part of the federal case against Abstonâ€™s. The child molestation counts are at the state level. Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris says he will now be moving forward on those charges.

Watch the video: Sentence Handed Down In Federal Child Pornography Case

Related Stories:

11/14/2006 Broken Arrow Child Pornography Investigation

11/15/2006 Suspect In Broken Arrow Child Pornography Case Fails To Appear In Court

11/16/2006 David Abston Arrested By Bixby Police

11/17/2006 Man Facing Child Pornography Distribution Charge Appears In Federal Court

1/9/2007 Motion To Dismiss Denied In David Abston Federal Court Case

2/5/2007 Child Pornography Suspect Seeks Plea Deal

2/7/2007 Child Pornography Suspect Heads To Court

3/8/2007 David Abston Pleads 'Guilty'

5/30/2007 More Charges Filed in Child Pornography Case

6/1/2007 New Information About Accused Child Molester

7/25/2007 Abston Sentencing Delayed