ABERDEEN — A Lowndes County man arrested during an investigation into his missing stepdaughter pleaded not guilty to child pornography charges Tuesday in U.S. District Court.
Robert Warren Triplett Jr., 56, of 181 Golding Road, had his initial appearance in Aberdeen at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi on charges of activities regarding materials constituting or containing child pornography.
Triplett”s trial is scheduled for Feb. 1, 2010 in Oxford before Chief Judge Mike Mills, according to court records.
Triplett was arrested in October when investigators found explicit photos of minor children on a computer obtained from his home during an investigation into the disappearance of his stepdaughter.
Triplett”s stepdaughter, Kaila Morris, 21, has been missing since Sept. 17, when she was last seen by Triplett, who said she left the home he shared with Morris” mother, Bonnie Morris Triplett, in a dark-colored van or sport utility vehicle, with an unknown person or people.
Morris” mother was vacationing in Florida at the time.
Robert Triplett was arrested following a prayer service for Morris. Volunteers had searched for Morris prior to the service. Authorities have said that Triplett is not connected to Morris” disappearance.
Triplett, who had past arrests for sex crimes in Mississippi and Louisiana, was on non-adjudicated probation from 2003 charges of attempted sexual battery in Jackson County.
Triplett”s attorney is Gary Goodwin of Columbus,
U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner of U.S. Attorney”s Office in Oxford is prosecuting the case.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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