London Woman Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Pornography Offenses

LONDON, KY—Kerry B. Harvey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Stewart Walker, London Police Chief; and Perrye Turner, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, jointly announced today that a London, Kentucky woman who photographed two children engaged in sexually explicit conduct was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Amul Thapar sentenced 37 year-old Corrine Sherman for producing child pornography, possessing child pornography, and conspiracy. Sherman’s husband and co-defendant, Rickey Sherman, died of a heart attack, while in custody, in July.

In February this year, a jury convicted both at trial. Evidence presented established that, in 2008 and continuing throughout much of 2011, the Shermans conspired to produce child pornography. During this time period, the couple produced at least 40 images of two prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The investigation started when state authorities received a tip that Rickey Sherman had violated conditions of his probation from a previous offense. During that investigation, Corrine Sherman attempted to hide a camera from law enforcement. The camera was eventually recovered and contained the child pornography images.

Rickey Sherman had owned Truck Town Repair in Laurel County. He and his wife were indicted in September 2011.

Under federal law, Corrine Sherman will have to serve at least 85 percent of her prison sentence.

The investigation was conducted by Sargent Joe Smith, with the London Police Department, and the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman.