The jury in the trial of Greg Salard found the former family physician guilty of two child pornography charges, for receipt and distribution. A lesser, third count was not deliberated by jurors.
Judge Anthony Burgess presided over the proceedings, which lasted seven days. Jury selection began last week, and the trial included five days of testimony.
Prosecutors finally rested their case on Monday, after the court heard from a federal investigator, arresting officers and a computer specialist. Evidence shown during the trial included screenshots of video files found on Salard’s computer depicting child pornography.
Salard offered no defense and did not testify on his own behalf.
He was arrested on October 15, 2014, after a search warrant was executed at his Zimovia Highway home.
Evidence against him stemmed back to February 2014, when FBI investigators started monitoring a peer-to-peer file sharing network engaged in exchanging pornographic material. Prosecutors alleged an IP address linked Salard to this network and that, up until the morning of his arrest, he had made available and downloaded hundreds of files containing videos and images depicting child pornography.
A laptop in his home at the time of the search was in the process of having its files erased, though prosecutors say a fuller forensic examination has since yielded images, videos, registry files and other information suggesting illicit activity.
Previous trail dates set in January, February and May were moved after Salard’s defense said more time was needed to forensically evaluate his computer. A further motion to compel production of discovery filed on July 17 was opposed by prosecution, as a motions deadline was set for June 26.
In addition to the pornography charges, while in custody, Salard was charged with being a fugitive from justice. In April the state of Louisiana announced its intention to extradite and try him for aggravated rape. The charge stems from allegations made in 2007 of child sexual abuse that had occurred since 2004.
As the trial progressed into its sixth and final day, jurors needed only a few hours to deliberate before returning their verdict Tuesday afternoon.
Sentencing has been set for Oct. 9. For each count, Salard faces no less than five and up to 20 years’ imprisonment and fines of up to $250,000. Upon release, he would be subject to monitoring for as little as 10 years, up to a lifetime.
The U.S. District Attorney’s office confirmed Salard could be extradited to Louisiana once sentencing has been passed and the state files the paperwork. Until then, Salard will be held at Lemon Creek Correctional Facility in Juneau, to be remanded to a facility of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ choosing after sentencing.
Before his arrest, Salard worked as a physician specializing in family medicine for Alaska Island Community Services and served as chief of staff at Wrangell Medical Center. Both suspended Salard’s hospital privileges following his arrest, and he is now no longer employed by either organization. He surrendered his medical license shortly after being charged.
Reader Comments(0)