After a rare trial where jurors viewed the videos of child sexual abuse that an Easton man was accused of downloading and sharing, the panel convicted him Wednesday on all counts after only 45 minutes of deliberation.
Weiwu Zhao, 76, was convicted of four offenses including a second-degree felony count of distributing images depicting indecent contact with children younger than 13. That means Zhao faces a maximum sentence of 29 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled Dec. 18.
Zhao was charged after investigators said they tracked a three-minute, 22-second video to Zhao’s computer, and later used a search warrant to seize the device from his West Madison Street home. A forensic analysis of the hard drive uncovered 13 other videos, police said.
Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Laura Majewski said the verdict brings justice for each of the victims whose abuse was depicted in the videos.
“It’s important for the public to understand this is not a victimless crime and each of those victims now has a voice because he has been brought to justice,” Majewski said.
While child pornography is a major target for law enforcement, very few cases go to trial and most end with a guilty plea if the evidence is not thrown out because of errors by investigators.
In Zhao’s trial, jurors saw parts of the 14 videos, which moved some to tears. Judge Jennifer Sletvold warned jurors after seeing the videos not to allow their emotions to prejudice them against Zhao.
Zhao represented himself at trial, having hired and fired three lawyers as his case wound through court. A native of China who relied on an interpreter during the trial, Zhao railed against the justice system in legal filings, claiming he is being framed and invoking racism against Asians.
