Former BigLaw Partner Faces More Federal Charges in Child Porn Distribution Case
A former partner of Allen & Overy charged last year in a child pornography distribution case is now jailed, at least for the weekend, after being federally indicted on additional counts.
Edward M. De Sear, 65, of Saddle River, N.J., had been free on $250,000 bail after being charged last year with a single distribution count. However, he was arrested Thursday after being indicted on new charges in federal court in Newark, N.J., and will be in jail until at least Tuesday, according to Reuters.
He now faces three counts of advertising child pornography, four distribution counts and one possession count.
A 1973 law graduate of the University of Virginia, De Sear worked prior to his arrest last year as a capital markets partner in the New York office of Allen & Overy.
The feds say they were alerted to De Sear’s activities in 2010, when he used Allen & Overy’s wireless Internet network to view child porn and even at one point allegedly distributed multiple child porn files to an undercover law enforcement agent, according to Reuters and the Star-Ledger. The articles rely on information from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Newark and the indictment.
De Sear’s lawyers and a law firm spokesman did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
Additional coverage:
ABAJournal.com (2011): “Allen & Overy Partner Is Charged in Child Porn Case in NJ”
Cliffview Pilot: “Bergen attorney shared kid porn from family kitchen, law office, indictment alleges”
