JACKSON HOLE, WYO – Local businessman Bill Resor, 65, was sentenced today to three months in county jail, five years supervised probation, and a $10,000 fine for possessing child pornography.
Judge Joseph Bluemel accepted as plea deal offered by Resor’s defense team (Erik Klein, Jim Lubing) and special prosecutor Spencer Allred. The state was asking for one year and 10 years supervised probation. Resor’s defense petitioned the judge for no incarceration and two years probation.
In exchange for a guilty plea on one count of felony exploitation of children, an additional count of possession and two counts of distribution were dismissed.
Judge Bluemel made note of several factors working in favor of the defendant in regard to sentencing, notably the decision by the US Attorney’s Office not to prosecute the case at a federal level and Resor’s ownership of the crime including 100+ hours of professional counseling he has sought out on his own since his arrest May 9, 2017.
Allred agreed with Pre-sentencing Investigation that found Resor at low risk for re-offense and no danger to the community, but insisted a term of no less than one year in county jail (allowing the defendant to avoid federal prison) was appropriate punishment as a deterrent to others.
Allred explained that one of the children found on Resor’s home computer engaging in explicit sexual conduct was known to federal investigators to be a girl rescued from an abusive home situation after she was repeatedly exploited by her own father since she was six years old.
The Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) digitally tags any photos and video images of the child as a means to track who downloads illicit material. It is how a DCI investigation led to Resor last spring.
“While the prosecution is in no way implying the defendant was involved in any contact or responsible for the production of this material, he is part of the reason this material exists and a market for it persists,” Allred said today in court. “And it re-victimizes this and other victims of child pornography every time it happens for many years to come.”
Defense attorney Klein admitted his client could pay the $10,000 without a problem but asked for two years probation stating most repeat offenders violate parole within the first two years of their convictions. He also urged the judge to not do what he’s seen other judges do—namely, split the difference in what prosecution and defense lawyers were seeking in jail time.
But Judge Bleumel did exactly that, suspending a potential 2-7 year prison term for three months in the Teton County Jail with time off to allow Resor to tend to medical appointments in Salt Lake City. Resor will also be a registered sex offender and a convicted felon.
Resor made a brief statement, halted several times by emotion, saying he was sorry for what he knows is a serious offense and has made steps to seek professional help for the depression that was the root cause for the behavior. Resor will also have any computers or phones with internet capabilities monitored at his expense.
Resor was ordered to report to jail next Monday at 8am.
