Williamsburg Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography

NORFOLK, Va. – Edward Joseph Matish III, 25, of Williamsburg, was sentenced today to 40 months in prison for accessing with intent to view child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. Matish was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release following his release from prison.

Matish pleaded guilty on Oct. 18, 2016. According to court documents, Matish was a member of Playpen, a hidden website dedicated to the sharing of child pornography that operated on the Tor network from August 2014 until March 2015. Between October 2014 and March 2015, Matish logged into Playpen and viewed content depicting the sexual exploitation of children. In December 2014, Matish wrote on the site that he used it to control his attraction to young girls, encouraging others like him to “[l]eave the touching to the brave souls willing to risk everything for our relief.”

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Henry Coke Morgan, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin C. Gratton prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:16-cr-16.