Judge awaits return of defendant in pornography case

A former Waynesboro animal control officer is clear across the country while nine felony counts related to pornography and the exploitation of children await him in Burke County.

Michael Todd Boswell was arrested in August 2007 for accessing child pornography through the Internet.

He was later indicted on five counts of computer pornography and child exploitation and four counts of sexual exploitation of children. The charges stem from Boswell's Internet contact, which was sexual in nature, with people he believed to be under the age of 16. He was also found to have child pornography in his possession.

Having been released on bond, Boswell has since moved to Washington State and has not returned to answer his charges.

Defense attorney Scott Connell indicated that Boswell will likely plea guilty as opposed to seeking a trial. However, his case has been on the sentencing calendar for months, most recently being called last Wednesday, and he has yet to appear in court to enter his plea.

According to Connell, Boswell still plans to return to Burke County for court.

Superior Court Judge James G. Blanchard issued a bench warrant last week and told attorneys Boswell was to be taken into custody as soon as he returns.