Former Green Lantern writer, SF Writers' Grotto instructor admits guilt to child porn

San Francisco resident Gerard Jones, who was arrested in 2016 on suspicion of possessing more than 600 files of child pornography, officially changed his plea from innocent to guilty on April 2, 2018. He will be sentenced on July 10, which is also his 61st birthday. less San Francisco resident Gerard Jones, who was arrested in 2016 on suspicion of possessing more than 600 files of child pornography, officially changed his plea from innocent to guilty on April 2, 2018. He will ... more Photo: San Francisco Police Department / San Francisco Police Department Photo: San Francisco Police Department / San Francisco Police Department Image 1 of / 47 Caption Close Former Green Lantern writer, SF Writers' Grotto instructor admits guilt to child porn 1 / 47 Back to Gallery

A reputable comic book author and SF writing instructor facing child pornography charges switched his plea to guilty more than a year after he solicited letters of support from former writing colleagues.

Gerard Jones wrote stories for Marvel and DC Comics — most notably the Green Lantern — produced screenplays for Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox and wrote non-fiction books.

The year before his arrest he had been teaching writing classes for the San Francisco Writers' Grotto.

As The Chronicle reported at the time, Police arrested Jones in December 2016 after executing a search warrant at his residence in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood, which revealed devices storing more than 600 images and videos depicting child pornography.

Jones' collection of child pornography was "extensive and horrific," according to court documents from the U.S. Attorney's office, and he was responsible for uploading a video to YouTube that showed a "prepubescent minor victim being repeatedly sodomized by two adults," a video prosecutors say he uploaded using the email address "8-is-the-new-18@gmx.com".

Google, which owns YouTube, contacted law enforcement and informed them that child pornography had been uploaded to the site, according to reports in comic book trade publications.

Jones initially entered a not guilty plea and began soliciting letters of support from religious leaders, businessmen, writers and other comic book creators.

He was later released from custody on $250,000 bond with a home monitored curfew and ankle bracelet.

After more than a year of maintaining his innocence, Jones changed his plea to guilty in late March as his trial was set to begin.

Prosecutors sought to remand him after he admitted guilt, citing evidence that he was "not merely a collector and distributor" but that he also "traveled internationally to meet with a minor with whom he had sexual contact," a reference to another investigation into his relationship with a British youth.

However, US District Judge Vince Chhabria denied the motion and found "exceptional circumstances" for Jones to remain out of custody pending sentencing.

Jones is 60 years old and has a wife and adult son. He will be sentenced on July 10, which is also his birthday. He faces a maximum of 20 years' imprisonment for distribution of child pornography and another 10 years for possession, according to court documents.

Jones worked in comics for more than a decade, writing stories for the Green Lantern and Justice League and co-creating El Diablo at DC Comics and Prime for the Ultraverse. In recent years, he produced nonfiction books, including an award-winning book on the history of comic books and one on violent entertainment and children.