Ex-Pfizer Exec in Child Porn Case Must Pay $200,000 to Victim

(MoneyWatch)  A judge has ordered a former Pfizer executive convicted of distributing child pornography to pay $200,000 to a girl whose images he downloaded.

It is the first time that restitution has been ordered paid by someone who consumed child pornography but did not themselves abuse the victim, according to The Day.

The court appears to have chosen Alan Hesketh, the former global patent dirctor at Pfizer, for this novel new punishment simply because his work at the company had made him wealthy. Hesketh is also serving a 78-month prison sentence. He previously worked at Glaxo Wellcome in The UK. Hesketh was caught with nearly 2,000 child porn images. He was fired by Pfizer last March.

The Day:

Judge [Warren] Eginton said that after he reviewed the law, restitution appeared to be mandatory in this case. He then considered Hesketh's financial position, having looked at a sealed report prepared by the probation department.

The court examined Hesketh's ability to pay:

He paid $834,000 for a 3,371-square-foot colonial at 202 Montauk Ave. in Stonington in 2003. He also owns homes in New York, England and the Isle of Man.

Judge Eginton said that after he reviewed the law, restitution appeared to be mandatory in this case. He then considered Hesketh's financial position, having looked at a sealed report prepared by the probation department.

"The ability to pay ... even with this depressed market, is probably there," said Eginton. He indicated that, if necessary, he would extend the restitution order over a period of time so that Hesketh's family is not forced to sell the properties until real estate prices recover.

Hesketh's lawyer said he will appeal the verdict on the grounds of its novelty and because there is no proof that the girl in the photo is the girl Hesketh has been ordered to pay money to.