Booking photo for Eric J. Bosworth. (Courtesy: Cache County Jail)
LOGAN — A judge has refused to follow a plea deal recommendation for a 46-year-old Logan man convicted of sharing child pornography on social media. Judge Spencer Walsh ordered Eric J. Bosworth to serve one year in jail after a defense attorney suggested only a fraction of that time.
Bosworth wiped away tears as he was sentenced Monday afternoon in 1st District Court. He had previously accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.
Last year, Bosworth used a Facebook account to send a file containing child pornography to 81 other users. The video was of an adult female raping a two-year-old boy.
Investigators traced the Facebook and Gmail accounts to a phone number listed for Bosworth. He was arrested and later admitted to viewing pornography regularly but denied having a sexual attraction to children. He also recalled sending the child pornography through Facebook Messenger because he was “curious.”
Police searched Bosworth’s cellphone at the time and discovered a large amount of pornography, including pictures of female and male children ranging from 4 to 12-years-old in swimming suits. A laptop computer also showed a search via Yahoo for naked children.
During Monday’s sentencing, defense attorney Joseph Saxton suggested that his client be given a lighter sentence because he had no criminal history. He explained how Bosworth had a deep addiction to pornography that desensitized him to the point that he didn’t understand the criminal seriousness of his actions.
Cache County Deputy Attorney Ronnie Keller said Bosworth’s behavior was disturbing. He noted that the Utah State Legislature passed legislation this year now makes what the defendant did a first-degree felony.
Bosworth, who had been out of jail on bail, told the court he took responsibility for what he did. He expressed hope that his sentence would be shorter, so he could keep his apartment and employment.
Judge Walsh told Bosworth he needs serious help and deserved a harsher sentence. He said the defendant showed signs of pedophilia and posed a safety risk to the community.
To show what he called “reprehensible,” Judge Walsh then read aloud a graphic description, detailing the video Bosworth had shared. He said it was “absolutely vile and can’t be tolerated by the court.”
Bosworth was immediately taken back into custody by deputies and escorted out of the courtroom. Following 364 days in jail, he will be on probation for 48 months.
will@cvradio.com