GRAND JURY INDICTS COUPLE PAIR FACES CHILD PORN CHARGES.Byline: Staff and Wire Services A Canyon Country man arrested in a sting after agreeing to perform genital mutilations genital mutilation The destruction or removal of a portion or the entire external genitalia, which may occur in the context of a crime of passion or as part of a cultural rite. See Bobbittize, Cutter, Female circumcision, Self-mutilation. on two fictional young girls was indicted INDICTED, practice. When a man is accused by a bill of indictment preferred by a grand jury, he is said to be indicted. Friday by a federal grand jury. Todd Cameron Bertrang, 41, and his girlfriend, 24-year-old Robyn Faulkinbury, who prosecutors said served as his assistant, were charged with conspiracy, and production and possession of child pornography Child pornography is the visual representation of minors under the age of 18 engaged in sexual activity or the visual representation of minors engaging in lewd or erotic behavior designed to arouse the viewer's sexual interest. . The case against the couple is the first filed under the Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation female genital mutilation: see circumcision. Act of 1995, which outlawed circumcision circumcision (sûr'kəmsĭzh`ən), operation to remove the foreskin covering the glans of the penis. It dates back to prehistoric times and was widespread throughout the Middle East as a religious rite before it was introduced among the or removal of certain sex organs of girls under 18 unless there are medical reasons. During the investigation, Bertrang boasted he had performed ``more female circumcisions than anyone in the Western world,'' prosecutors said. The indictment also accuses Bertrang of possessing firearms, which prosecutors say was illegal because he had a prior felony conviction for perjury perjury (pûr`jərē), in criminal law, the act of willfully and knowingly stating a falsehood under oath or under affirmation in judicial or administrative proceedings. . The arrests came after a yearlong investigation by the Medical Board of California's Operation Safe Medicine unit. Initially, Bertrang was charged with a felony - violating the Business and Professions Code section that prohibits risking harm, serious injury or death by practicing medicine without a license. The FBI investigated further - sending an agent to pose as a customer and arrange for the surgery to be performed on two fictional girls, ages 8 and 12. He agreed to the procedures, but also said at the time he was aware that it was ``totally illegal'' in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and that performing one on any girl 18 or younger ``carries a five-year immediate sentence,'' Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Aveis said in an interview. During a visit to the pair's home, the FBI investigators met two customers, both of whom had undergone procedures, officials said. The investigation revealed that Bertrang attracted customers through his Web site and may have been performing unlicensed procedures since 1997. |
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