Self-proclaimed nudist admits collecting child porn

PEARLAND, TX

William Scott Nelson pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of attempted distribution of child pornography, according to a U.S. Attorney's Office statement.

An investigation was launched in February 2009 after an officer with the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children discovered Nelson had posted 74 child porn files to a file-sharing program. Then during a search warrant in August 2009, authorities found a computer, hard drives a Kodak digital camera and magazines that contained photos of nude juveniles and approximately 200 35-mm slides of young nude girls engaging in provocative acts.

Nelson said he was a nudist and didn't think that possessing photos of nude children is wrong. Nelson also admitted how he searched for child pornography on the Internet and how he stored it and collected it over many years.

Nelson faces between five and 20 years behind bars and up a $250,000. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 15.

After completing his sentence, Nelson also faces a maximum of life on supervised release during, which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children and prohibit the use of the Internet.