Children's Book Author Charged with Child Pornography

Kevin Patrick Bath, the 50-year-old author of the children's books The Secret of Castle Cant and Escape from Castle Cant, was recently charged with multiple counts of trading child pornography via the Internet. A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon reports that “[a] forensic examination of Bath’s computer and data storage media revealed well over 100 video files and thousands of still images of child pornography. Many of the videos graphically depicted the sexual abuse of very young children.” In addition to writing children’s books, Bath serves as a volunteer at a local children's library.

Bath pled not guilty in response to the charges. Nevertheless, the Oregonian reports that publisher Little, Brown has cancelled the fall 2010 publication of Bath's book Flip Side. During the pendency of the proceedings, Bath is prohibited from “having contact with children pending trial.”