Pullman man faces child porn charges

A March 14 trial has been scheduled for Joseph S. Benson, 52, Pullman, after he pleaded not guilty in Whitman County Superior Court Dec. 18 to 10 charges of possession of child pornography. Benson was charged Nov. 30 with one count of possession in the first degree and nine counts of possession in the second degree. The charges all allege he was in possession March 18 when Pullman Police served a search warrant at his residence and seized a computer. The computer was turned over for forensic examination by an officer with the WSU Police, and his report was received Nov. 19.

According to the report, an investigation started in August of 2014 when a Moscow Police detective investigated an alleged sharing network used by pornography offenders. The report said the detective was able to trace the internet protocol address assigned to the computer seized at the defendant’s residence.

Defense Attorney Michael Pettit of Pullman has filed a demand for discovery, which seeks copies of the reports, a potential witness list and any statements allegedly made by the defendant during the course of the investigation.