Release Date: August 13, 2009

Contact:         Kevin Drescher, Senior Deputy District Attorney

                      (805) 662-1722

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Richard Gene Ballard (DOB 10/10/50) of Camarillo was sentenced today to two years in prison for possessing child pornography in the Camarillo Library and his home last year. Superior Court Judge Bruce Young also ordered Ballard to register as a sexual offender. Ballard has been incarcerated in the Ventura County Jail since his arrest in April 2008, he will be released from jail later today because he has served enough time in custody to complete his prison sentence. He was ordered to report to the Oxnard Parole Unit within 24 hours of his release so that he may be monitored by state parole officers.

On April 14, 2008, an employee of the Camarillo Library noticed Ballard on the public computer viewing what appeared to be child pornography. The employee called the police and an undercover detective from the Southern California High Tech Task Force responded. The detective entered the library and observed Ballard viewing and downloading child pornography on the public computer. Ballard was arrested. During a subsequent search of Ballard's Camarillo home, law enforcement officials discovered more child pornography that resulted in the filing of additional counts of possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child.