Minister arrested for child porn says he was doing research

Associated Press - September 7, 2007

WACO, Texas — A minister who was arrested on child pornography charges told authorities he was doing research to get some Web sites shut down, police said.

Henry Edgington, 63, of Chalk Bluff, was charged with seven counts of child pornography possession. He was released from the McLennan County Jail on $70,000 bond Thursday after he surrendered to police.

Edgington, a minister at the Elm Mott Church of Christ near Waco, did not immediately return a call Friday.

A relative found a box containing child pornography at Edgington's home and approached Waco Police's Crimes Against Children detectives last week, police spokesman Steve Anderson said. The Police Department has jurisdiction to investigate crimes brought to its attention, even though Edgington lives in a Waco suburb, Anderson said.

Edgington told detectives he downloaded the pornography to give to a congressman in an effort to have the Web sites shut down, Anderson said.

"Unless you have a badge, it's illegal to look at child pornography, no matter what your motive," Anderson said.
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Information from: Waco Tribune-Herald, http://www.wacotrib.com

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