Pete Wesson
By Jeff Roland
FLORENCE–The former owner of Wesson Sign Design, William Howard “Pete” Wesson, 65, surrendered to Lauderdale County authorities this morning on charges of possessing child pornography.
Wesson was accompanied by counsel Jeff Austin.
According to a statement from police, they were contacted earlier in the year by the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations team regarding possible child pornography being in the possession of Wesson. After consulting with these federal agents a search warrant was executed at his home and a large quantity of electronic media storage devices were seized and analyzed.
As a result of result of this investigation, 55 videos were seized. The videos depicted children, under the age of 17, engaged in obscene acts in violation of state code 13A-12-192.
According to investigators, there is no indication any of the children are from the Shoals area.
Wesson was released from the Lauderdale County Detention Center after posting bail totaling $275,000.
More details as they become available
