1 of 2 men accepts plea-bargain on federal child-porn charges

One of two men charged in the operation of a Web site featuring scantily clad girls in suggestive poses has accepted a plea deal with prosecutors.

Charles Granere and his business partner, Matthew Duhamel, were both charged with transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography, accused of operating a pay-per-view Web site featuring pictures of 9- and 10-year-old girls dressed in scant adult clothing.

In U.S. District Court Wednesday, Granere pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in federal prison.

Last fall, both men sought to have the charges against them dropped, arguing that the models featured on their Web site were not nude and therefore did not constitute child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell rejected their argument, showing that U.S. Supreme Court rulings have determined that nudity need not be present in photographs to constitute pornography.

Federal prosecutors also argued that unlike fashion ads featuring scantily dressed models, what Granere and Duhamel were peddling were photos of children.

Duhamel has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is waiting for trial. Duhamel is known for briefly working as a weather forecaster for KUTV Channel 2 under the name Matt McCoy as well as hosting a local late-night talk show on KPNZ Channel 24.