Ex-DJ guilty of child-porn charges

A man who was an on-air personality in the Salt Lake and Idaho radio markets has pleaded guilty to downloading child pornography.

Larry Hunsaker, 71, entered his guilty plea Friday in 3rd District Court to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, both second-degree felonies. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dismissed eight additional charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.

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 in the home. Hunsaker had 12 child-porn videos saved and had deleted others, court documents state. He consented to having his computer seized and searched.

The case was turned over to the Utah Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in 2008. A warrant for a forensic search of the computer was filed and returned in 2009, and Hunsaker was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on April 20.

Hunsaker started at KSOP in the mid 1960s and used the radio name Larry Hunter. His radio career spanned 40 years and included time at several stations. He was working occasional overnight weekend shifts at KSOP when he was arrested.

Hunsaker was fired from the station after the charges were filed.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22.

— Geoff Liesik