Martin County man indicted on child porn charges

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

BEAUTY — A Martin County man was indicted Thursday on three counts of child pornography.

Donald York, 59, is charged with production and distribution of child pornography.

The indictment says that on Dec. 30, 2019, and Jan. 2, 2020, York allegedly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor female to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.

The visual depiction was produced using materials that had been shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce and was actually transmitted using any means and facility of interstate and foreign commerce, the indictment says

On Jan. 4, 2020, York allegedly distributed a visual depiction that had been shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce, by any means including by computer, the production of such visual depiction having involved the use of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, the indictment says.

A forfeiture allegation is also included in the indictment for a Samsung Galaxy S10 cell phone, a Dell Inspiron laptop computer, a Wester Digital hard drive and a Toshiba hard drive.

York was arrested in Martin County on Aug. 6, 2021, on charges of first-degree rape; first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor, illegal controlled substance, under 18 years of age; second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor; and possession/view of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor.

York was also arrested in Martin County on July 14, 2020, and charged with tampering with physical evidence; drug paraphernalia-buy/possess and possession of marijuana.