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More Details Released: Cantonment Man Gets Five Years For Child Porn
May 16, 2013
A former gospel music pianist from Cantonment is headed to federal prison on child pornography charges.
Mack Stewart Varnado Jr., 32, pleaded guilty earlier this year to recipient of child pornography and transportation in child pornography. He was indicted after an investigation revealed that he sent 14 child pornography images to another person, according to court documents.
He was sentenced to five years in federal prison and ordered to report to begin his sentence by July 15. After release, he will be required to register as a sex offender and will be on probation for six years.
On October 13, 2011, a cybertip was reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that sparked the local investigation. The report documented email messages containing child pornography being transmitted from an AOL account in the Northern District of Florida. Specifically, on October 12, 2011, AOL detected an email message sent from a user account traced to Varnado to an Yahoo subscriber.
The message contained several child sexual exploitation images. Detective Chris Wilkinson, of the Pensacola Police Department, was able to trace this email message to Varnado at his residence in Cantonment. A total of 14 illicit images had been sent by Varnado. All of the images depicted minor children between approximately 10-14 years old engaged in various sexual activities.
On or about January 13, 2012, Detective Wilkinson obtained a warrant to search the email account hosted by AOL, located in Dulles, Virginia. On January 18, 2012, AOL responded that Varnado maintained email messages, both sent and received, which had attachments of child pornography.
All this information led to a federal search warrant on Varnado’s residence in Cantonment. The defendant was present during the execution of the search warrant. Multiple pieces of digital media were seized. A forensic examination of Varnado’s digital media revealed images and videos of child pornography, matches for the screen name in the original tip, and matches to those images located in the “sent” mailbox linked to the email account used by Varnado.
In addition, based upon Varnado sending and receiving child pornography from his residence in Cantonment, Senior United States District Judge Roger Vinson ordered that Varnado forfeit his interest in the residence because it was used to facilitate the online crimes against children. This amounted to Varnado forfeiting $74,000 to the United States government.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Marsh said, “Protecting our children from the permanent scars left behind when this kind of exploitation occurs is critically important work. This prison sentence, along with the forfeiture ruling, should send a strong message of deterrence. We have the expertise to responsibly gather the necessary evidence to charge these cases, and the charges when proven beyond a reasonable doubt carry serious penalties under federal law.” She expressed her gratitude to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Pensacola Police Department for their cooperation, dedication, and expertise in the investigation and prosecution of the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood,
Varnado was a pianist for the nationally known gospel group The Dixie Echoes from 1998 until last year.
Comments
45 Responses to “More Details Released: Cantonment Man Gets Five Years For Child Porn”
I pray that you will repent and ask for forgiveness and God will forgive you Stewart
David Huie Green – you are so wrong and self righteous it makes me physically ill. I am not negating the need to repent, but repentance is subsequent to forgiveness. What you are claiming is tantamount to a works based salvation. You are telling people that they can’t be forgiven through Christ alone (Eph 2:8) You are telling people they must do something in order to be forgiven. Chirst didn’t teach that. You know that too. You know what the Gospel teaches so don’t act like you have it all together and make someone feel they can’t be forgiven unless they can first conquer sin on their own.
Christ gives us the power to overcome sin BECAUSE we are forgiven. We are NOT forgiven because we have overcone sin. What you claim is unBiblical.
Get your theology straight before placing a burden on someone that they can never bear. You may think you are perfect, but be honest- right now sir I want you to list EVERY sin you ever committed. If what you say is true, you will have to remember EVERY sin you EVER committed in order ro repent from them before you can be forgiven. You can’t do it can you? So by your own words, you are already condemned to hell.
Shame on you. It’s people like you that harm the Gospel by adding to it conditions we can never attain. Jesus has some very stern warnings for people like you. You would be best to heed those warnings and REPENT FROM THEM.
Shame on you again. Salvation is found nowhere else but by calling on the name of the Lord.
You would do yourself best to call on the name of the Lord because you sir are not right with God. You bear bad fruit and we can know a person by the fruit they bear.
People, do not believe this liar. Jesus WILL give you the power to overcome your sins but that is AFTER you are His child. He doesn’t say we have to conquer our sin to be saved. He says the opposite. ASK to be forgiven and ACCEPT His forgiveness. THEN you will grow in a new life and THEN He will give you the power to overcome sin through HIS strength, not yours. There is a reason Jesus suffered and died. If we could save ourselves as David Huie Green claims, Jesus died in vain. NO! He died because we couldn’t do anything on our own and had mercy on us. WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS!
Trust JESUS – NOT David Huie Green
The sad thing is there is no cure for pedophiles
THIS IS SICK. I THOUGHT I NEW A BETTER MAN .Stewart if your reading this respect children enough were you don’t send them nasty things.
My wife and I knew a different person. We knew someone who seemed to be shy, quiet and sweet. Unfortunately, we did not know this side of him. We knew the person who was a witness at our renewed wedding vows(on our 10th anniversary). I agree with the legal system, and we will uphold him in our prayers. In God’s eyes, this is no worse than any other sin. Let him who is without sin cast the first stone. Many of these comments were uncalled for. How many of these criticizers are presently involved in drug use, homosexuality, or any other act of immortality. Jesus died for ALL sins. As long as you’re sincere in asking for forgiveness, God will give you a new life. Just bury your sins and resurrect into a new life. Good luck and God bless.
Stewart’s acts are disgusting, twisted and deviant. 5 years is a slap on the wrist. He should be locked away forever and the key thrown away.
I know Stewart personally, I pray Gods guidence for him. And I pray for his family.
What a waste of life. He s a very talented man. He will have 5 years to think about the future.
THIS IS SO SAD I HAVE HEARD HIM PLAY FOR YRS AND MAN HE IS GOOD AT THE KEYBOARD BUT YOU KNOW SIN WILL TAKE YOU FUTHER THAN YOU WANT TO GO ONLE WE ASK GOD FOR HEALING O THIS MAN WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES BUT THIS IS A BADONE
My family knows this man- been friends with him for years. He is an extraordinary display of God’s gift of talent. My young daughter was around him socially, never alone, and always with a group of adult family members. As a parent, I treated him as I would any other person in regards to my child- the fact that he was a gospel singer gave me no more reason to trust him than I would anybody else. A preacher, teacher, doctor or stranger- NO ONE should be given uncontrolled access to a child. EVER. If a child is never left alone with an adult looking to do bad things, then the bad things don’t happen. As a Christian, I can say this without any reservation- I TRUST JESUS- everyone else in subject to scrutiny. If all parents took this stance, there would be less of this awful mess. Children are to be protected. They are God’s greatest gift to us and our responsibility to keep them from harm. Don’t leave your children alone with anyone you don’t 1000% know you can trust. EVER. Period.
(perhaps in smaller pieces)
REGARDING:
“Christ can and will forgive this man for this sin if he asks.”
One final point of theology and I’ll leave you alone to your own assorted theologies:
Just asking for forgiveness is not enough to receive forgiveness. There MUST also be repentance for that sin.
If a person intends to kill a hundred people and asks forgiveness between each killing, there is no forgiveness because there is no repentance. He intends to continue the sin of murder. It’s the same for any other sin, asking forgiveness between bank robberies is meaningless because there is no repentance, there is intent to continue stealing.
Lest you think this is just the theology of David Green, I refer you to:
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
And the words of Christ in:
Luke 13:3 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
David for true salvation
(perhaps in smaller pieces)
REGARDING:
“God only sees one level of sin.”
Actually, scripture says God can’t look at sin, but it does not say He considers it all the same.
Nonetheless, Jesus spoke of the greater sin:
John 19:11 “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”
Or consider what the apostle John wrote in:
1 John 5:17 “All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.”
If there is a sin which is not unto death, that means there is a sin which IS unto death, ergo, different level.
And a considerably frightening thought:
Hebrews 10:26 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,”
The same sin committed after receiving knowledge of Christ is one without sacrifice to cover it.
David for The Lamb
(perhaps in smaller pieces)
REGARDING:
“Actually Christ said we are to love the Hell right out of them!”
Actually, Christ did NOT say that.
Something which He DID say and which seems relevant is found in the gospel according to John, eighth chapter, 44th verse.
David for The Truth
So there IS more to the story! This guy tried to cover a lot up. Thanks for posting the new released info!
To NO EXCUSE….. he will be going to a FEDERAL PRISON . He is home roaming the streets until July. …this man has a high school diploma and money is not a problem for him. So yes, we’ll all be supporting him in prison to further his education.
Just to let everyone know child molesters get the same amount of time a this guy in most cases.
@ g who said:
“to EMD – I am at a loss to your post about how child porn related to your topics of shacking up – premarital sex – and abortion ??”
I was just making the point that we humans are quick to think that one sex sin is worse than another. Perhaps it is, in our eyes, but God is The Ultimate Judge. If you want to see the what God thinks about the things I mentioned( as to principle), see 1Corinthians 6: 15-20.
We all have things with which we struggle, however we cannot just cut those off. Even Christian men and women struggle with sin. The Word and The Spirit of Christ is how we overcome. Until we do, we cannot help the thoughts and feelings that come, but only what we do about them.
If a parent has a child, or others that they love, and they are involved in such ungodly things……and unashamedly, it is very heart breaking, especially if they flaunt it, and act as if it is OK. It is also heartbreaking when an older that knows better, influences a younger relative. But, some folks seem to think they are the only ones with feelings.
I am not defending what this man did. But, as for whether or not this he has asked for forgiveness, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
To Terri Sanders & Christian saved by Grace:
Please read this post the way I intend it. This is not a biting post. I’m a Christian as well. There is nothing wrong with taking a stand against someone who would mean harm & has harmed innocent children. There is nothing non Christ-like about that. I absolutely sin every day of my life. I ask for forgiveness and I’m forgiven. Yes, Christ can and will forgive this man for this sin if he asks. I read posts on this site all the time and it really bothers me when some Christians say be careful what you say about others lest you fall. That is true but, it’s as if you’re saying we, as Christians, have to be void of any emotion or opinion that something like pedophilia invokes in us. We’re being judgmental. Christ wasn’t void of His opinion of what He thought about anyone who would mean harm to an innocent child. Please see Matthew 18:6. Yes, we all sin and come short of what Christ expects of us. We all can and will be forgiven if we ask. Again, there’s nothing wrong with a Christian having a strong opinion about something they feel so passionate about.
To: Me Again
So, the sexually exploitive images and videos found on this man’s computer were of children. Your facts were wrong. I was hoping you were right. Here is a 30 year old man (at the time) receiving and sending sexually exploitive material of 10 to 14 year old children! Wow! Please respond to this post and explain to me how I’m being unforgiving and judgemental. This man did’t go to authorities and tell them what he had been doing to innocent children. They had to catch him. He would still be doing it if he had’nt gotten caught. Thank God that we have authorities who dedicate their professional life to catching men like this. It would not surprise me in the least to find out that he has molested a child or children he’s had access to. By the way, his attraction to children did not begin when he was 30. That’s when he got caught. There’s no telling what this man has been up to before then. I, as a mother, would be shaking in my shoes if he was part of my life in any way. I would be asking my child some pretty important questions. Like I said before his sexual orientation is a pedophile. He’s attracted to children. That will never change. Our children will not be safe when he re-enters society. He may just be a little more cunning next time so as not to get caught.
Some questions some comments I know the article said 14 images but I would guess there were many more but only 14 that they could prove were children between the ages of 10 and 14. My second comment is where did he get the pictures? For those of you who “know” him – you may well also know these children. My third comment is who was he sending these to? One person (it appears) stepped up and turned him in but what about the others he was “trading” with – I wonder if they were investigated. Kudos to the one person that did the right thing !!!!!!!!!!!
to EMD – I am at a loss to your post about how child porn related to your topics of shacking up – premarital sex – and abortion ??
to me again — who was in their 20’s and where does it say vic was 17? or is this another story?
Sorry my opinion is that 4 or 14 or 1400 pics of child porn Is to many and he should be punished — also parents need to spend more time with your kids – do not trust anybody no matter how religious or righteous they seem to be – there are never enough chaperones where your children are concerned
Terri Sanders thank you for your comment. You are so right. We need to be careful of what we say because it may come back to bite us in the rear!
Just a few facts:
Unless he does not have a high school diploma, the BOP will not be paying for any further education for this individual. If he cares to pursue that route, he will have to pay for it himself and it can be quite expensive.
Not sure which institution he reported to to begin his sentence, but I am pretty sure it was a medium level facility like FCI Marianna. Sex offenders don’t usually get the luxury of a minimum security facility. He won’t enjoy him time in prison there. It’s a REAL prison. Five years in hell is more like it.
Hey music man. I didn’t defend him. That was “me again” responding to me, concerned mom.
To Me Again: “I think our best bet is to let God forgive and we take a stand and never forgive. Perhaps all Christians could stone him? Sounds like the right thing to do huh? Surely his sin is worse in Gods eyes? (definitely sarcasm here).”
Wow, please show me in either of my posts where I called for a stoning of this man. I have a very forgiving nature. I’m a gentle person. You’re not upsetting me in the least because I know you don’t know me. However, you’re going off the deep end with your comments about how Christians maybe should just stone him. I know you’re saying you were being sarcastic, but that’s not very becoming of a Christian to say such a thing. It’s not my place to forgive him. He has’nt ask for my forgiveness. That’s God’s business. Presuming he’s ask for His forgiveness. My place and the place of ALL adults is to protect innocent children. I know, I know, you say it wasn’t a child. I don’t know that. But, I do hope that’s the case. Your defense of this man is leading me to believe you are a friend of his. Maybe a relative. Maybe you’ve found yourself in a similar situation. Just wondering. I’m trying to figure out what’s fueling your fire. I’m not trying to be upsetting to you. But, you’re coming off as a protector/defender of a sex offender. I’ll be looking for your sharp reply. However, misguided it might be.
Such a waste of God given talent and 14 years of using that talent for the Lord. It is just more proof that any of us as Christians can fall into the snares of the devil, and be led away with our sins. Fallen from grace…but not fallen out of the Lord’s hand. All of us are capable of falling into different types of sin. We like to put a number on it.. A 10 is a really bad sin and a 1 is just a little whit lie. But in the eyes of God they are just sins. Some are more destructive than others but God only sees one level of sin. We as humans like to put levels on sin in order to elevate ourselves above other people.” I would NEVER do anything like that we say. But we need to be on the watch…less we ourselves fall.
Thats a sermon right there MUSIC MAN!! That’ll Preach!!! AMEN Brother……………. or Sister (I guess I dont know what gender you are … haha) God Bless!!
I know the “dixie echoes” must be hanging their heads in embarassment!! They are truly, and awesome group! I know the people in this group, and I know this young man, and I must say, that there has always been something “a little off” with him! But the rest of the singers are truly amazing people! I know God will continue to bless this group! Hang in there “DE”!!! Praying for you guys during this embarassing moment!!
musicman: you were told wrong about him pleading for less sentence. Look at other cases with people that have lots of images getting 5 years or less. He had 14 images. Wrong yes..but nothing in comparison to the typical case.
to concerned mom: I think our best bet is to let God forgive and we take a stand and never forgive. Perhaps all Christians could stone him? Sounds like the right thing to do huh? Surely his sin is worse in Gods eyes? (definitely sarcasm here).
By the way…I’m not defending that he didn’t do something wrong and deserves punishment. Only saying that nobody is so bad that we Christians can’t love and forgive! And while 17 is still underage, and he was in his early 20s at the time, I know he broke the law. Still we have to at least recognize that it wasn’t little kids.
nowhere did it say that he pled guilty for a lighter sentence. 5 years is the minimum mandatory for this crime. He would have gotten a longer sentence had the judge seen him as a threat.
So sad. Porn can destroy families. Yes! It can and does.
Why don’t people go to jail for shacking up? Some while still married.
Why don’t folks go to jail for having sex before marriage and having babies?
Why are people allowed to make babies and then KILL them!? Nicer words do not change what is done routinely. It is killing…………pre meditated MURDER!!! No matter what name the killers call it. Now, I know if a liberal is in charge of posting this, it won’t get posted. And if it does get posted, It is sure to make some people very angry. But, it is time people tell it like it is. It’s the truth and it stinks. Killing an innocent baby because one has no morals or self control is very sinful. To their own child they are saying, ‘My pleasure. You pain. :’( I believe that even God and the angels weep.
Replying to “cygie”
I know we are supposed to love the hell out him, but I think most people would agree, that for pedifiles/sex offenders “they would love to beat the hell out of them!!!”
A- to the-men “music man”! But atleast ‘we” the taxpayers will only have to pay for his education, meals, teeth, etc… for only 5 years and not 25!!
The sad part about this is he will come out with an education better than most of us and a new pair of teeth!!! And WE get to pay for it!!!! While trying to protect our kids from people like this!! He will use these 5 years to lay low and get what he can get from the system and come out shinning like a new gem! This guy is smart (well not to smart) and manipulative!!!
Hate the sin love the sinner. Actually Christ said we are to love the Hell right out of them!
He said he had to Plead guilty to get a lighter sentence! What a shame! Im sure There is more to this story……it’s really sad that his employer was brought up in it. The owner is a fine person and wouldn’t have kept him had HE known…This guy had it coming. You can’t be arrogant for too long because you will reap what you sow! You can bet that!….at least he will have 5 years to think hard about his life and what he should’ve done different….it only takes one screw up to turn your life upside down! His friends should take notes!
This was his mistake!! This has nothing to do with the group that he sang in. They should not be judged for his wrong doing.
One does not change their sexual orientation. I’m a heterosexual. I say that to say this. I could never be attracted in a sexual way to another woman. Pedophiles are attracted to CHILDREN. That attraction will never change. They can not help it. So, our priority as a community, as law enforcement, as a nation is to protect innocent children. Not to think about how difficult life will be from now on for a pedophile to be known as a sex offender. They are a sex offender. They should be known for who they really are. That label helps us, as parents, teachers, organizations, neighborhoods, etc., know those who are among us that would mean harm to the most innocent who CAN NOT protect themselves. I could say so much more but, I can’t because of a time issue. I have to go pick up my precious innocent six year old from school.
“Sad, what the internet does to some people.”
Nah, the Internet didn’t do it, he done it to himself. He would have had these same feelings even if there were no Internet.
A light sentence? What about the businessman, Brown…from a few months ago? He apparently had more counts than this guy and apparently got to pay his way out of jailtime!
I’m glad that God considers his sin as a 10 and mine are only 1’s and 2’s. (my attempt of humor). Sure we can be disappointed, but other Christians as myself must remember Matthew 6:14-16 and Luke 6:37.
As for commenter ‘disturbing’s judgement, I’ve been very angry at people before, but never had the desire to actually take it to the next level and kill or hurt someone. We will never know the full story, but in taking the Christians’ non-judgemental role, I can say that without knowing him, I can still show forgiveness and won’t dwell on further punishing the guy.
i saw the dixie echoes a few years ago…..excellent gospel group….no doubt this will reflect negatively on that group, which is quite unfortunate…the sentence seems fair, in relationship to the crime…..i just watched a lisa ling documentary (early this morning) on the lives of released sex offenders- some in florida….a good many of them end up living in tents, out in the isolated woods…sometimes, they place several offenders in the same house, so as to keep a better check on them and because its so difficult for them to find an acceptable place in the community (away from children) to live….i dont think that being labeled a “sexual offender” for the rest of his life will be an easy road- but, he was the master of his fate, the captain of his ship…a stark lesson for others who dare to dabble in child pornagraphy.
This is an awfully light sentence. My reasoning is, if this man is willing to look at and send these photo’s to others, what makes anyone think he would not be willing to take it a step further? I realize they charged him on what they had to go by (thank you), but I think tougher sentencing for crimes such as these would help to prevent predators like this from re-offending. Every time I see something like this, I can’t help but to think about the poor child involved and the family as well. It breaks my heart.
This is so sad. This young man is such a talented piano player.
Sad, what the internet does to some people.
Hopefully prison doesn’t get him killed (big bubba im told don’t like no pedophile although Im not sure bubba sees this as true pedophilia)and straightens him up.
Porn is never the answer.
Take him away.
I would comment further, but it would be in poor taste.