Ex- Sheriff's officer pleads not guilty to child porn charges

A former Lee County Sheriff's Office sergeant pleaded not guilty to child pornography charges Monday after another Lee County man facing child-molestation charges reportedly turned him in.

Russell W. "Rusty" Graham, 47, a former canine officer, did not appear in Lee County Circuit Court on Monday morning for his arraignment. One of his defense attorneys, Joel Kopf, entered the plea on Graham's behalf.

Graham was arrested and charged May 11 after Lee County resident Walter Werner Wessel reported that Graham sent Wessel sexually explicit pictures of children, two of whom he claimed were his daughters.

Graham faces six counts of possession of child pornography after investigators reportedly found graphic images on his home computer. Sheriff's reports show Graham does not have any daughters.

Lee County Circuit Judge James R. Thompson set Graham's trial for Aug. 28. Kopf declined comment for himself and Graham after the hearing.

"Graham made admissions to the electronic conversations with Wessel, however he denied having any female children and stated he only made up the sexual intercourse (with one child)," sheriff's reports said. "Graham stated he sent the photograph as part of his 'fantasy world.' "

Graham denied that a penis featured in one photo was his, arrest reports said.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Graham had an annual salary of $66,019.72 at the time he was fired May 11. An Internal Affairs investigation concluded he engaged in unlawful and improper conduct.

Possession of child pornography is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison if convicted. Sheriff's reports said investigators found six pictures of children or teens in explicit poses on Graham's home computer.

"Graham believes he is innocent on the criminal charges ... because he believes none of the photographs are child pornography," Graham's Internal Affairs report said. "Graham denies being attracted to children for sexual gratification."