Ex-Head of L.A. Neighborhood Commission Heads to Trial in Child Porn Case

A Tarzana man who quit an unpaid Los Angeles city job after FBI agents allegedly found a massive child pornography stash at his home is set to face trial next month on federal charges.

In his initial federal court appearance late Wednesday, 63-year-old Al Abrams pleaded not guilty to charges contained in an eight-count indictment that accuses him with distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography. Trial was set for April 24 before U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner.

Federal prosecutors allege that Abrams has been collecting child pornography for more than 20 years and amassed a collection of thousands of images. Abrams resigned in early August as president of the seven-member Board of Neighborhood Commissioners, which oversees the neighborhood councils that provide a link between local communities and Los Angeles City Hall.

Abrams, who had served on the board since 2008, owns a public relations firm and has worked on ballot measures in Agoura Hills, Westlake Village and Walnut Creek. According to an affidavit filed in support of a search warrant, authorities looking into a peer-to-peer file-sharing network were able to download more than 150 videos and images depicting child porn from a computer at Abrams' house in August.

After his house was searched, he told a TV station that a now-excised growth on his spine left him with a split personality that compelled him to do what normally would have been out of character. If convicted of all counts, Abrams could face anywhere between five years and 150 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

–City News Service