Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 11/03/2009

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Terry Menshek - (707) 565-3098 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

COTATI MAN GUILTY OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND MOLESTATION CHARGES

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that on October 30, 2009, George Anton Clair, 37, of Cotati was convicted by a Sonoma County jury of 46 felony counts involving the molestation of his 9-year-old relative, and the possession, production and distribution of child pornography. Clair faces a life term as a result of his convictions.

In June, 2008, the Cotati Police Department received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that possible child pornography was being shared over the internet originating in Cotati. Search warrants revealed the subscriber accounts belonged to Clair. Additional search warrants resulted in the seizure of Clair’s computers and external hard drives.

The Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force conducted forensic examinations of the computers and hard drives which revealed thousands of images of child pornography, including images of Clair’s 9-year-old female relative being molested by him, as proven by evidence at trial. Recorded phone calls of the defendant made while he was in jail revealed an attempt to destroy evidence by having a computer wiped of information. The trial commenced on October 9, 2009, and lasted 11 court days. The child testified to Clair’s conduct, while he took the stand denying all allegations against him. The jury deliberated for approximately one day before finding Defendant guilty of all counts. Clair will be sentenced in Department 3 at 9 a.m. on December 17, 2009.

Kathy Ann Gilmore, 54, who married Clair in 2008 but maintained a separate residence in Sebastopol, previously pled and was convicted of several related felony charges, including child endangerment, child pornography, and conspiracy to destroy evidence. The court has indicated that she will be placed on supervised felony probation if mental health reports prepared for the court pursuant to California law are favorable. The maximum sentence she could receive as a result of her pleas is 8 years in prison. Gilmore’s sentencing is set for Thursday, November 5th, in front of Judge Medvigy in Department 3.

The case was investigated by the Cotati Police Department, headed by Officer Chris Diaz. Deputy District Attorney Juliette Olson handled the prosecution and was assisted by District Attorney Investigator Roslyn Eliaser. Detective Brett Liddicoet of the Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force testified to the forensic examination of the computer evidence.