Ex-TV weatherman is convicted in porn case

Published: Friday, Feb. 16 2007 12:35 a.m. MST

A former television weatherman was convicted Wednesday in federal court on charges of transporting, receiving and possessing child pornography.

Matthew Duhamel, 32, of Bountiful, now faces a mandatory 10 years in federal prison and could receive up to 30 years.

He was found guilty on three felony counts in connection with a Web site he and a business partner operated. The site featured scantily clad 9- and 10-year-old girls.

Federal prosecutors say Duhamel and Charles Granere ran the pay-to-view Web site that featured the girls in suggestive poses. According to charging documents, one photo of a 9-year-old girl shows her dressed in "black stiletto pumps, a black lace thong, black bra, and black jacket" and sitting on a dining room table.

The Web site referred to the girls as "models." Federal agents estimate 2,000 to 3,000 people paid $22 a month to access photos on the site.

Last fall, both men argued that the pictures were not pornographic because the minors were clothed. However, Campbell pointed out in a ruling that the U.S. Supreme Court has determined nudity is not required to constitute pornography.

Duhamel faces sentencing on June 19. Granere pleaded guilty to one count of transporting child pornography in a plea deal. He faces up to 15 years in federal prison.

Duhamel briefly worked as a weather forecaster for KUTV Channel 2 under the name Matt McCoy. He also hosted a late-night talk show on KPNZ Channel 24.


E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com

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