NORFOLK MAN, CONVICTED IN CHILD-PORN CASE, KILLS SELF

John Joseph Cartwright, 52, killed himself at home Tuesday night, two days before his scheduled sentencing for distributing child pornography.  He faced up to 15 years in prison.  He left behind a private and personal letter for his wife, which police would not provide further details.  After receiving a complaint from a woman in James City County who posed as an 11-year-old girl in an Internet chat room, FBI agents raided Cartwright's home in June.  The chats she had with him continued over two weeks last April and May and grew increasingly pornographic.  Cartwright sent her photographs of child pornography, offered to teach the girl about sexual acts and offered to meet and take her picture.  He told her their conversations should be kept secret and he would travel to Williamsburg to take pictures of her and not to tell her mother.  He was free on bond pending his sentencing.

(Norfolk, Virginia)