Accused One Direction Imposter Seeks Dismissal of Child Pornography Charges

John Eastman is charged with coercion and enticement of minors and possession of child pornography

A Waterbury, Connecticut, man accused of impersonating a member of the band One Direction to record child pornography is asking a federal judge to dismiss the case based on what he says was an illegal search.

John Eastman is charged with coercion and enticement of minors and possession of child pornography.

Prosecutors said he pretended to be a member of One Direction and used Skype to communicate with teenage girls, in one case persuading a girl between 13 and 16 to pose in sexually explicit ways.

According to an arrest warrant, Eastman used the screen name Harry.Styles888 on Skype and had pictures of the One Direction singer on his computer, which were used to convince children he was the star, the Waterbury Republican-American reported in 2013.

According to the New Haven Register, Eastman in his motion to dismiss said police entered his home without permission and seized his computer without a warrant.

Authorities said the 48-year-old Eastman consented to the search and voluntarily surrendered the computer.

The parties are scheduled to meet on Tuesday in court to discuss the case.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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