A cloud of suspicion has descended over the small town of Alvin, Texas, where a former martial arts and gymnastics instructor has been indicted on disturbing charges related to child pornography. Franklin Joseph Perkins, 40, once revered as a coach at the Kuk Sool Won Dojo and Gulf Coast Gymnastics, now faces federal prosecution after a grand jury returned a three-count indictment against him last Wednesday as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas.
Perkins—accused of transportation, receipt, and possession of child pornography—was ordered detained by U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison, who voiced his determination that Perkins poses a danger to the community. At the hearing, authorities testified that they discovered evidence of child sexual abuse material in an online account controlled by Perkins, and further shocking discoveries were made at his residence. Law enforcement officials are now on the hunt for other potential victims, urging anyone with information to reach out to Homeland Security Investigations in Galveston.
According to information dredged up at the detention hearing, the probe into Perkins' activities came to a head after investigators became aware of suspected child sexual abuse materials being uploaded to the web. They executed a federal search warrant at Perkins' home, uncovering a reprehensible trove of child sexual abuse content stashed in a Google Drive account. Additionally, they stumbled upon non-pornographic images of underage minors in gymnastics attire and captured screenshots of youthful girls' social media profiles according to testimony and evidence presented in court.
Those found guilty in this expanding web of exploitation face severe consequences—a minimum of five and up to 20 years in federal prison for the transportation and receipt charges and up to ten years for the possession count. Each offense also carries the weighty possibility of a $250,000 fine and an even heftier mandatory restitution. Perkins' alleged actions have not only shattered the sanctity of a community but have also ignited a fierce urgency to bring justice to the victims and perhaps, some solace. HSI Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson emphasized the need to identify victims to support them through recovery, highlighting that, "HSI has dedicated full-time victim assistant specialists who work closely with child sexual exploitation victims to connect them with the medical treatment, counseling, and other services that they might need following sexual abuse," as the investigation continues.
The case against Perkins, part of Project Safe Childhood, underscores a worrying surge in crimes against the innocence of youth. For those bearing the heavy burden of information on suspected victims of child sexual exploitation or missing children, they may contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s confidential hotline. With the rallying cry for justice heard loud and clear, Assistant U.S. Attorney Colton Turner helms the prosecution as the community of Alvin and the nation watch on, awaiting closure.
