A jury of eight men and six women — including alternates — heard opening statements in the courtroom of United States District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose.
Assistant U.S. attorney Laura Clemmens told jurors the case is about the “sexual exploitation of children” and that “there’s a dark side to the Internet, a seamy side to the Internet” where people trade child pornography.
Court documents show the case against Trepanier stretches back to 2008, when an Australian Federal Police undercover officer said that “wingmann66” sent and then quickly removed some adult pornography using Hello.com.
That officer testified that he assumed the screen name of a man who had been arrested for transmitting child pornography in order to target child pornography traders.
The FBI alleges Trepanier chatted about having sex with a young teenager and sent a video of another teen swimming naked. In 2009, the FBI interviewed Trepanier and his wife, who are now divorced. They did not submit initially to a search of their computer but did so the next day.
Court documents allege Trepanier used a “window-washing” program to try to erase images and chat logs. An affidavit alleges that more than 50 images of child pornography were found.
In 2012, a decoded chat directory identified 20 chat sessions between wingmann66 and other users. During these chat sessions, wingmann66 sent at least 10 images of child pornography and received more than 50 images, including images depicting sexual acts with infants and toddlers.
Clemmens said Trepanier gave the impression in online chats that he had taken some of the hardcore photographs by saying, “It was good.”
Court documents said Trepanier was arrested by military authorities in 1999 for commission of a prior child molestation offense and the resulting disciplinary hearings for wrongful possession of child pornography. Records show Trepanier was punished and given a discharge “under less than honorable conditions” in July 2000.
Trepanier’s defense attorneys earlier made a motion to determine their client’s competency and sanity, citing that there is “reasonable cause to believe that Mr. Trepanier is currently suffering from a mental disease or defect.” The motion also stated that Trepanier “has sustained several head injuries throughout his lifetime.” Trepanier was found competent to stand trial.
Defense attorney Cheryll Bennett told jurors, “We think this case is about Mr. Trepanier being the government’s target.” Bennett said two witnesses in the case — including Trepanier’s now ex-wife — told FBI officials different stories in 2009 and 2011 when Bennett said her client’s marriage was ending.
Trepanier has been an own recognizance bond with stipulations that he be monitored by computer and that he not be associated with any children under the age of 18 years old except in the presence of an approved adult.
The trial is expected to continue the rest of the week.
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