Guilty on all 8 counts. That’s the verdict handed down just before noon today in the child pornography trial of 36 year old Zachary Reed of Mt. Carmel.
The jury deliberated just over an hour this morning before returning the guilty verdicts on the Class X felonies. Reed was arrested last year after pornographic images of a 12 year old girl were found on his phone and a laptop.
The trial resumed this morning with defense attorney Patrick Costa choosing not to call any witnesses or offer any testimony. Instead, he and state’s attorney Kelli Storckman delivered closing argument with Storckman asking the jurors to use common sense in evaluating the evidence presented at trial this week. She said the defense could offer only two possible explanations for the videos with Reed saying he was set up or the girl had videoed herself.
The jury received the case at 10:37am and the verdict was read just before noon by circuit clerk Angie Crum.
Sentencing for Reed is set for November 27th at 9am as he faces 6 to 30 years in prison on each of the 8 counts.
Judge William C. Hudson ordered Reed returned to the Wabash County Jail and held without bond.
36 year old Zachary Reed of Mt. Carmel is led back to the Wabash County Jail this afternoon after being found guilty on 8 counts of child porn.
36 year old Zachary Reed of Mt. Carmel is led back to the Wabash County Jail this afternoon after being found guilty on 8 counts of child porn.