Luling man gets 10 years for child porn

Also convicted of molesting a child

Grover Cornwell, 61, Luling, pled guilty to 90 counts of possession of child pornography and 1 count of child molestation of a juvenile.

The 90 counts stems from a seizure of a computer, and the child pornography charge developed from an allegation of child molestation.

As St. Charles Detective Joey Thibodeaux looked into the molestation allegations, a cooperative was formed with Assistant Attorney General Toby Aguillard, Investigator Orie Hunter and Investigator Mike Johnson from Louisiana Attorney General's Office for the child pornography charges.

In pleading guilty to the child pornography charges, Cornwell received 10 years hard labor in the Department of Corrections. According to the St. Charles Parish District Attorney's Office, that is without a chance of parole, probation or suspension of sentence. For molesting the juvenile, with whom he was an acquaintance, he got an additional 8 years. The sentence on the molestation charge will run consecutive to the child pornography charge.

Also included in a statement from the DA's office, the molestation charge is to be suspended, but added that he will be on active probation for 5 years following his release from prison. At which time, Cornwell must register as a sex offender.

Cornwell was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kim K. Elwee, with Judge St. Pierre presiding.

Working in unison with all levels of government, Cornwell was arrested February, 15, 2005 and served a year before posting bond. He will begin serving his sentence on April 24.

In a statement regarding the nature of this crime, District Attorney Harry J. Morel, Jr. said, "I want to send a message that my office has instituted a zero-tolerance policy for this type of crime," adding, "The people of St. Charles Parish must know that my office will prosecute these cases to the fullest extent of the law."