A convicted sex offender from Smith County has now pleaded guilty to new charges of possessing child pornography. According to the United States Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Texas a Tyler man previously convicted of a child pornography violation has now pled guilty to possessing child pornography as announced by U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Tyler Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Pornography Charge42-year-old, John Matthew Emerson, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on July 21, 2026 before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell. According to court documents, Emerson was found in possession of a cellphone containing child pornography while on supervised release for a previous child pornography conviction. Get our free mobile appCase Prosecuted Under Project Safe ChildhoodThis case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.