Tyler Man Pleads Guilty to New Child Pornography Charge

A convicted sex offender from Smith County has now pleaded guilty to new charges of possessing child pornography. According to the United States Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Texas a Tyler man previously convicted of a child pornography violation has now pled guilty to possessing child pornography as announced by U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Tyler Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Pornography Charge

42-year-old, John Matthew Emerson, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on July 21, 2026 before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell.

According to court documents, Emerson was found in possession of a cellphone containing child pornography while on supervised release for a previous child pornography conviction.

Defendant Faces Up to 20 Years in Federal Prison

Emerson is now facing up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Emerson's sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

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Case Prosecuted Under Project Safe Childhood

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.