FBI reports seizing 59,000 images of child porn from Utah sex offender

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SALT LAKE CITY — A registered sex offender is facing numerous criminal charges after local police and the FBI say they found approximately 59,000 images of child pornography in his home.

Timothy Wayne Harner, 59, of Helper, was charged Monday in Carbon County’s 7th District Court with 26 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.

Helper police, Carbon County sheriff’s deputies and FBI agents served a search warrant on Harner’s home on Thursday.

“On one computer FBI agents identified 40,000 images of child pornography. Agents also were able to identify another 19,000 images of child pornography on a digital storage device,” according to a police affidavit.

Investigators also reported locating a DVD with pictures and videos of child pornography.

“It should be noted that at the time of the initial search, FBI agents had located over 59,000 images on only two of the devices that they seized. The FBI stated that they would not be able to process all of the devices and compile all of the evidence on the scene due to the tremendous number of images they had located. The FBI agents then began to seize and bag the other electronic devices,” the affidavit states.

In addition, investigators said they found pictures Harner had allegedly taken on his cellphone in areas where children walk to and from to school.

“These images along with Mr. Harner’s criminal history provide a stark picture of Mr. Harner’s intentions to continue his pattern of exploiting children in the Helper community,” police wrote in the affidavit.

In 2001, Harner pleaded guilty to sex abuse of a child, according to court records. He was sentenced to one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison and was required to register with the Utah Sex Offender Registry.