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Press Release

Cross Lanes man pleads guilty to receiving child pornography

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of West Virginia
Defendant faces at least five and up to 20 years in federal prison

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Cross Lanes man pled guilty today to a child pornography crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Charles William Lourett, 62, entered his guilty plea to receiving child pornography. U.S. Attorney Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Parkersburg Police Department, the FBI, and the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force.   

U.S. Attorney Stuart said, “We have no tolerance for predators or these disgusting crimes. We will use every tool at our disposal to aggressively prosecute those who use the Internet to target and exploit children.”

Lourett admitted that on September 22, 2016, he received a video of a prepubescent minor engaged in sex acts. The video was received on Lourett’s computer located at his residence. The investigation revealed that Lourett was using a peer-to-peer file sharing program to download, receive, and distribute child pornography. Lourett further admitted to possessing over 600 images and videos of minors engaged in sex acts.

Lourett faces at least five and up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on May 22, 2018. Upon his release from prison, he will be required to serve a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

First Assistant United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston and Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald are in charge of the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Updated February 21, 2018
Topic
Project Safe Childhood
Component
USAO - West Virginia, Southern