Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: News

A plea deal is likely in the works for former Marketing professor Scott Ward, who is facing child-pornography charges.

Ward, 65, is awaiting arraignment on two counts of transporting child pornography and one count of giving a false statement to a governmental agency.

The arraignment has been delayed until May 20. U.S. District Judge the Honorable Petrese Tucker granted the motion to delay the arraignment, which was filed by Ward's lawyer, Mark Sheppard, and unopposed by prosecutors.

"One of the reasons was to avoid any unnecessary travel," Sheppard said. He added that "ongoing discussions" about the plea are another cause of the extension.

"I think we're all hopeful that [a plea bargain] can be worked out," he said.

Ward will have the opportunity to present a plea at the May 20 hearing.

Ward pleaded guilty last February to possession and transport of child pornography in Virginia and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after incriminating DVD's and photographs were found in his luggage at Dulles Airport last year.

Ward is being held in a correctional facility in western Pennsylvania and is required to travel to Philadelphia, still under custody, for the arraignment, which is a short hearing where he will be officially informed of the charges against him.

Legal experts speculate that plea discussions are aimed at minimizing Ward's time in prison.

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