Former Jared Fogle associate to be sentenced for child porn

The former director of a foundation started by ex-Subway pitchman Jared Fogle is set to learn his sentence for producing child pornography that played a role in Fogle's criminal case.

 

A federal judge was scheduled Thursday to sentence Russell Taylor, who agreed in September to plead guilty to child exploitation and child porn charges alleging that he used hidden cameras to produce pornography of 12 children.

 

Prosecutors are seeking a 35-year sentence for Taylor. His attorneys are seeking a sentence ranging from 15 years to nearly 23 years. He faces a minimum 15-year sentence under federal law.

 

Taylor was executive director of the Jared Foundation, a not-for-profit that Fogle started to raise awareness and money to fight childhood obesity, from 2009 until May, when prosecutors filed child porn charges against Taylor.

 

Authorities said Taylor, 44, secretly filmed 12 children who were nude, changing clothes or engaged in other activities. They said he used cameras hidden in his Indianapolis-area homes to produce child pornography.

 

Indiana authorities who raided Fogle's Zionsville home in July have said their probe began in September 2014 based on a tip to Indiana State Police regarding Taylor's sexual interest in children.

 

Federal prosecutors said Fogle, a 38-year-old father of two, received photos or videos from Taylor of eight of Taylor's 12 child victims and encouraged him to produce more child pornography.

 

Fogle was sentenced last month to more than 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to trading in child pornography and having sex with two underage prostitutes.

 

Taylor's attorneys said in a court filing that Taylor is deeply remorseful for his actions, that he has a history of mental illness and that he was sexually abused as a child. They also said that Fogle was psychologically abusive to Taylor and exercised financial control over Taylor after hiring him to run his foundation.