PD Man Takes Plea Deal In Child Pornography Case

A Palm Desert man pleaded guilty today to possessing child pornography outside the La Quinta Library under a plea deal with prosectuors.

Steven Vonstein, a 55-year-old registered sex offender, had faced a felony count of possessing child pornography and a misdemeanor charge of exchanging child pornography.

Under the plea deal, Vonstein admitted to the felony count and the misdemeanor was dismissed.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge William S. Lebov sentenced him to one year in jail and three years probation.

He entered the plea on the same day he was set to appear for a hearing that would determine if he would go to trial.

Terms of his probation stipulate that Vonstein cannot possess any sexually explicit material and must complete a sex offender program, according to City News Service.

He was arrested March 22 trying to enter the library, which he had been banned from using.

When deputies contacted him, they allegedly found child pornography, according to the sheriff's department.

Vonstein has a prior child pornography conviction, pleading guilty in August 2004 to a misdemeanor charge of possessing images of a child in a sex act in exchange for the dismissal of more than 100 other counts of possessing child pornography.

He also plead guilty to felony charges of possessing an assault weapon and possessing a controlled substance while armed and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Vonstein's previous guilty plea to the child pornography charge required him to register as a sex offender.

City News Service contributed to this report.