Longtime DJ arrested on child porn charges

A man who has been involved in the Salt Lake and Idaho radio markets for 40 years has been charged by the Utah Attorney General's Office with downloading child pornography.

Lawrence Hunsaker, 71, who used the radio name Larry Hunter, was charged in 3rd District Court with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, all second-degree felonies.

In June 2007, law enforcement officers "across the nation" observed a computer downloading child porn, according to court documents. The IP address was traced back to Hunsaker's West Jordan residence. Local police were notified and an officer went to his door, according to court documents.

The officer confronted Hunsaker after learning he was the only one who used the computer and asked him, "How long have you been downloading child pornography?" court documents stated. He told the officer a couple of months.

He had 12 child porn videos saved and had deleted others, according to court documents. He consented to having his computer seized and searched.

A couple of days later, Hunsaker called the officer to apologize, said he was embarrassed and asked that charges not be filed, according to court documents.

"Hunsaker admitted he had a problem with child pornography but was going to stop," documents stated.

The case was turned over to state's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in 2008. A warrant for a forensic search was filed and returned in 2009.

Charges and an arrest warrant were filed April 15. Hunsaker was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on April 20. He was released three days later after posting bail.

Hunsaker started at KSOP in the mid 1960s. He worked at several stations before most recently working occasional overnight weekend shifts at KSOP under the name Larry Hunter. Hunter was fired after the charges were filed.

"I can't have felons or accused felons employed here," said station president and general manager Greg Hilton. "I do feel bad for him. And if this is the truth, I hope the legal system forces these people to get help because it's not a healthy thing."

E-MAIL: preavy@desnews.com