A Cortez man has pleaded guilty in connection to a federal undercover child pornography investigation.
Lloyd Keith, 59, of Cortez pleaded guilty last month to a felony count of sexual exploitation of a child. Upon his arrest last fall, Keith told authorities that he had viewed and downloaded up to 100 pornographic videos involving children, court records reveal.
“What you did harmed a minor,” District Court Judge told Keith on March 19. “That’s why you’re here today.”
Assistant District Attorney Sean Murray said that Keith would be placed on 48 months of supervised probation. Murray said the deferred judgment was appropriate because Keith lacked a criminal history and was a low risk.
In addition to probation, Keith was ordered to sex offender treatment, a mental health examination and alcohol and drug testing. He was instructed to have no contact with children under the age of 18, refrain from using a computer and register as a sex offender.
The charge was connected to an FBI case in Denver. Authorities traced multiple child porn downloads to Keith’s home computer.
Thieves sentenced
A Montezuma County couple have pleaded guilty in after multiple thefts last fall. A judge was one of the victims.
Jeremy Potter, 40, and Melissa Lukas, 32, were each charged with multiple counts of felony theft after they allegedly stole a vehicle, horse trailer, ATV and riding gear belonging to Montezuma County Court Judge JenniLynn Lawrence last October. They were also charged in the theft of welding equipment from their neighbor.
After pleading guilty, Potter is serving a three-year prison term. Lukas is serving 12 months of probation. Both are on the hook for nearly $5,300 in restitution.
According to court records, Lukas told authorities that she and Potter stole the judge’s horse trailer, so they could move to Nevada. The stolen items were reportedly seized by authorities from the defendants’ home on County Road 27.
The welding equipment was recovered from New Mexico pawnshops.