SAN ANTONIO – During opening arguments in John Campbell’s trial on promotion of child pornography charges, prosecutors told the jury that when confronted with sexually explicit images of young men found on his company electronic devices, Campbell said, ‘You got me.’
Campbell is charged in a 53-count indictment with seeking, acquiring and possessing nude, sexually explicit images of young men under the age of 18.
The case came to light, prosecutors told the jury, after Campbell mistakenly attached a sexually explicit image of a young boy to an e-mail he sent to a fellow employee.
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That employee alerted a corporate executive.
“When she asked John Campbell about the image -- she hadn’t even showed it to him yet -- he didn’t deny it,” prosecutor Patrick Ballantyne told the jury. “What he said was, ‘You got me.’”
Ballantyne said that Campbell said, “This is what happens when you do stupid things.”
Company executives immediately notified authorities and terminated Campbell.
During his opening statement Campbell’s attorney, Robert Featherston, urged the jury to be cautious and thorough as he noted the size and complexity of the indictment.
“Please, please take your time and look at every count involving this case,” Featherston said.
Testimony will continue on Thursday in Judge Catherine Torres-Stahl’s 175th District Court.
