Sex Offender Accused of Viewing Child Porn in Library

A registered sex offender from Lake Forest made his initial appearance before a federal judge today following his arrest at an Aliso Viejo library, where he allegedly viewed child pornography on one of the facility's computers.   

David Lavern Paine, 68, of Lake Forest, was arrested Wednesday by Orange County sheriff's deputies, who were called to the Aliso Viejo library after witnesses alleged he was accessing child porn websites, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.   

The deputies found the retired bus driver at one of the library's public computers in the alleged process of viewing the images.

Paine is charged in a criminal complaint filed in Santa Ana with knowingly accessing child pornography.   

When confronted by the deputies, Paine initially tried to lock the computer and appear that he did not know why he was being singled out, according to court papers.

Upon further questioning, however, Paine stated he was looking at "nude women, young girls, bestiality and Russian nudists," the complaint alleges.   

When asked way he was viewing such images in a public library, he allegedly responded, "Because it's available."  

Investigators examined the computer Paine was using and found computer windows leading to numerous pornographic websites highlighting images of young girls, ICE officials allege. 

"The allegation that this defendant was viewing child pornography in a public place where young people and their families congregate is beyond disturbing," said Joseph Macias, assistant special agent in charge for ICE's Homeland Security Investigations in Orange County.   

At Paine's initial federal court appearance, he was ordered held without bond pending trial.   

Given a prior conviction for possession of child pornography, Paine faces a mandatory 10-year minimum federal prison sentence if convicted of the current charge, Macias said.

--City News Service