Former Alabama Law Worker Arrested for Child Pornography

John Henry Watson Jr., a 54-year-old former driver license examiner for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), was arrested and charged with four counts of Dissemination of Child Pornography after sending letters containing pornographic images to multiple Alabama lawmakers and Governor Kay Ivey. The letters, which featured explicit content involving minors, were received by lawmakers who had sponsored a bill aimed at enforcing age verification on pornographic websites. Watson was placed on mandatory leave on April 9 and resigned the following day before the termination process was completed. He is currently being held without bond in the Houston County Jail, with a bond hearing scheduled for later this month, and ALEA has indicated that additional charges may be forthcoming. The investigation began when special agents responded to reports of suspicious letters at the Alabama State House. The incident has raised concerns about the accessibility of harmful material despite legislative efforts to regulate it.