Allen man who had tens of thousands of child porn images is convicted of 3 federal charges

An Allen man who had tens of thousands of images of child pornography has been convicted of three federal charges.

Clay Melton Denton, 56, was found guilty Friday of possession, distribution and receipt of child pornography at the end of a five-day trial in Sherman. The jury deliberated for less than an hour, court records show.

Undercover officers in both Garland and Plano who received child pornography in early 2018 traced the person who sent them the images to Denton’s home, authorities said.

When FBI agents searched the home in April 2018, they reported finding numerous computers and other devices. The entire second floor was filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves containing digital devices, peripherals and manuals, agents testified.

“The sheer volume of devices and images recovered by investigators in this case is astounding,” Matthew J. DeSarno, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Dallas office, said in a written statement.

Plano police Chief Ed Drain and his Garland counterpart, Jeff Bryan, both credited collaboration across agencies with helping keep their communities safe.

“Cases like these showcase the importance and effectiveness of working together not only locally but federally,” Bryan said in a written statement.

Denton faces up to 20 years in prison. His sentencing date has not been scheduled.