Van Nuys Man Indicted in Federal Child Pornography Case

A Van Nuys man was indicted today for allegedly receiving and possessing child pornography that he ordered through the U.S. mail or downloaded from the Internet.

Steve Golden, 36, was arrested by postal inspectors on May 30 and charged in a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Los Angeles the next day, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The complaint and today's indictment allege that Golden knowingly received a DVD depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, which he ordered through the U.S. mail, and also was in possession of child pornography that he downloaded from the Internet onto thumb drives.

After Golden purchased the child pornography DVD through the mail, postal inspectors searched his home and seized about 3,000 images and videos depicting sexual images of children, according to the indictment.

"There is no crime more heinous than that which is committed against the most vulnerable victims, our children," said Adam P. Behnen, inspector in charge of the Los Angeles division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

"Postal inspectors remain committed to the investigation of child pornography and the protection of our nation's youth," he said.

Golden admitted that he may have sexually molested children, and he also stated that he would sometimes invite minor girls from his building into his apartment, according to the criminal complaint.   

Golden, who is being held without bond, is scheduled to be arraigned June 20 in Los Angeles federal court. If convicted, he faces between five and 30 years in federal prison.

—from City News Service