Ex-aide of Kennedy family convicted for pornography

SALT LAKE CITY, MAY 18: A former aide to Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of late president John F Kennedy, was convicted of distributing child pornography over the internet and travelling to Utah to have sex with a 12-year-old girl.

Thomas J Pearl, convicted on Wednesday, faces a maximum of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on July 26. Pearl, 40, testified he sent images of child pornography to an internet companion who turned out to be a licensed therapist and former police officer.

Pearl’s attorney, Robert Breeze, argued his client was entrapped by the woman, who may have manufactured a case against Pearl because she hoped to get a job as a cyber-sex cop. Pearl was fired when the Kennedy family learned of his arrest.