OCEAN SPRINGS (MS)
Sun Herald [Biloxi MS]
July 26, 2024
By Margaret Baker
A federal judge Friday sentenced a retired Mississippi computer software developer and former media minister at an Ocean Springs church to serve nine years in prison for possessing over 83,000 images of child pornography.
In addition, U.S. District Judge Suz Ozerden ordered Cameron “Cam” Cotrill to pay a total of $237,194.12 in restitution to the minors, some as young as toddlers, identified as victims in the child pornography images and videos federal authorities found on three hard drives on a computer at his Vancleave home.
Cotrill is also a retired computer software developer who had the expertise to restrict his wife’s Internet access on computers at their home.
During the sentencing, the judge outlined exactly how much of the restitution would go to each of 35 victims identified in child pornography images of videos discovered during an forensic evaluation of Cotrill’s computer and hard drivers. Some of those videos or images had names, such as the “Cynder Block Blues Series,” the “Jan_Sox 1 Series,” the “Faithful Blonde Series,” the “Motor Couch 1 Series,” and more.
In addition to the prison term, the judge ordered Cotrill to serve 10 years under post-release supervision and ordered him to register as a sex offender and to stay away from minors under the age of 18, which he said includes an order for him to stay from parks, schools or playgrounds where he could have potential access to minors.
The judge also ordered him to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
“It’s a very serious offense,” Ozerden told Cotrill. “This conduct victimized a lot of people… and that is referenced in graphic detail in their (victim impact) statements.”
Prior to sentencing, Cotrill said he was sorry for the pain he had caused so many people in his life, namely his wife and children and friends who had known him during his 45 years of serving in different positions at various churches in Mississippi and elsewhere. His last position was as media minister at Center Point Church in Ocean Springs.
He is also a retired computer software developer who worked different jobs in California and in other states, including at a company in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
“I’ve obviously made a bad error in judgment — a bad mistake in accessing this material,” Cotrill said. “This has caused a lot of hurt to my family, my friends and to my church.”
During the investigation and forensic audit of his computer hard drives, federal prosecutors found over 10,000 images from videos and pictures on his computer and two hard drives.
In the weeks before his arrest, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones said federal authorities determined he had just downloaded another series of child pornography. She said he obtained the images and videos through peer-to-peer computer sharing networks that allow the material to be shared with others on the Internet.
At the time of his arrest, Joens said Cotrill was in the process of uploading certain images and videos, including one of a man with an erection standing over a naked minor child along with a second one of a naked minor child lying on top of a naked man.
Cotrill’s attorney, James Farrior, argued for a lessor sentence for Cotrill, pointing out he was 68 years old and that he had serious health problems that meant he would likely die in prison if his prison sentence was longer than seven years. In addition, Farrior argued that his client did not actually share the pornography but was simply using a type of peer-to-peer computer network for pornography that allows others to access it and share it.
Judge Ozerden called Cotrill’s crimes “serious,” and said he felt the sentence imposed was proper for the crimes.
Since his time behind bars pending sentencing, Cotrill said he has taken the opportunity to study scripture even more and to minister and hold Bible study meetings for prisoners.
Cotrill is currently housed at a correctional facility in Louisiana, pending further orders to report to a federal prison.
A couple of people, believed to be Cotrill’s family members, attended the sentencing and their muffled tears could be heard once the judge starting imposing the sentence.
In addition to prison time and restitution, the judge issued further orders for Cotrill to pay other fees of over $10,000, which included payments to such entities as the Victims of Trafficking Network.
The judge pointed out he had received letters of support for Cotrill before the sentencing.
After sentencing, Cotrill, in a blue jail jumpsuit with his hands and legs shackled, was escorted out of the courtroom by U.S. Marshals.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Attorney Todd Gee said.