This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A Salt Lake City businessman was found guilty of 20 felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor Wednesday, three years after his own employees turned him in for viewing child pornography on his work computer.
D. Chris Robertson, 61, was the owner and manager of Sabol & Rice, a HVAC equipment supplier, according to the Utah Attorney General's Office. Members of the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force seized Robertson's computers in April 2009, after his employees reported him to law enforcement because they were disturbed that he was openly viewing child pornography on his work computer, according to the attorney's office.
Two years ago, the U.S. Attorney's Office initially filed federal charges against Robertson, and he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to probation and to pay a $75,000 fine.
In March 2011, ICAC prosecutors filed state child exploitation charges against Robertson. Third District Judge Terry Christiansen found Robertson guilty of all 20 second-degree felony counts Wednesday.
Robertson faces up to one to 15 years in prison for each count. His sentencing is scheduled on Oct. 17.
Jessica Miller