Newtown man videotaped sexual abuse of children

Bridgeport, Conn. (WTNH) - A federal grand jury sitting in Bridgeport returned an indictment Tuesday, charging a Newtown man with three counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

The indictment alleges that, between 2006 and 2009, 35-year-old David Csanadi sexually abused three female children, videotaped the abuse and maintained the tapes at his home in Newtown.

The first victim was 18 months old and the second was 4 1/2 at the time of the abuse. The third victim has not yet been identified.

In addition to filming and maintaining video tapes of the sexual abuse, prosecutors say that Csanadi downloaded from the Internet and obtained other images and videos of child pornography on his home computer.

If convicted of the charge of production of child pornography, Csanadi faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years on each count. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Csanadi has been detained in state custody since April 15, 2011.

U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, the Newtown Police Department and the Monroe Police Department.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Neeraj Patel and Assistant United States Attorney Krishna Patel as part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood Initiative, and the District of Connecticut's "Operation Constant Vigilance," which are aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.