Posted on 08/05/2003 9:41:54 AM PDT by chance33_98
Man sentenced for photographing nude boy on River Walk
By The Associated Press
(8/04/03 - SAN ANTONIO) — A man who photographed a nude teenage boy on San Antonio's River Walk in 2001 was sentenced Monday to five years in prison.
Benito Tovar, 33, was convicted in late June on charges of inducing a minor to participate in a sexual performance and possession of child pornography.
Prior to sentencing by state Judge Juanita Vasquez-Gardner, Tovar said he took full responsibility for what he called an error in judgment, according to Monday's online edition of the San Antonio Express-News.
He also repeated his claim at trial that he was trying to build up his art portfolio and at the same time help his 15-year-old victim launch a modeling career.
"I just wanted to help someone with his dream, and I wanted to create something that was beautiful," Tovar told the judge. "But I messed up."
During the trial, prosecutors presented the black-and-white photographs confiscated on the morning that Tovar and the teen were arrested.
Tovar maintained that the photos represented artistic expression, but his defense lawyers did not call any witnesses to back up that assertion.
After their verdict, jury members told reporters they never considered the photographs as art.
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