A registered sex offender in Vernal is facing new criminal charges this time related to child pornography. Court documents show that 39-year-old Steven R. Harrison has been charged with one count of 2nd Degree Felony Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and one count of 3rd Degree Felony Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. According to the Probable Cause Statement, on September 24th in Uintah County, Harrison “uploaded an image of child pornography using an email address registered to him.” Harrison is required to register as a sex offender for a felony level conviction and he admitted that he used the email to collect child pornography. Harrison “also admitted he would use the email to send images to himself and store them on his phone. Further investigation is pending in relation to other images of child pornography [Harrison] admitted he had viewed and stored.” The charges were filed in 8th District Court on Tuesday and state that Harrison is in custody and is being held with no bail. Harrison was convicted in 2009 of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and served time in Utah State Prison. While on probation Harrison received new charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and was again sentenced to time in the state prison. Harrison was released from prison in 2018 and is once again facing felony charges.
