Kanawha County Resident Who Collected and Traded Child Pornography Gets Federal Prison Time

CHARLESTON, WV—A Kanawha County resident who collected more than 600 images of child pornography was sentenced on April 15 to two years in federal prison followed by 15 years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Michael Lee McCormick, 42, of Winifrede, Kanawha County, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in November 2012. McCormick admitted that he possessed more than 600 images of child pornography. McCormick also admitted that he downloaded the images on his computer. McCormick further admitted that he shared the images with other individuals using the Internet.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said, “Pedophiles like this defendant who download and trade child pornography encourage the abuse and exploitation of children. Behind every piece of child pornography traded over the Internet, there is a child somewhere who has been exploited in the most heinous way imaginable. I will continue to spare no effort in prosecuting these crimes against children.”

Goodwin continued, “This sentencing underscores the fact that sexual exploitation remains a serious problem.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney John Frail handled the prosecution. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.

This case was brought as 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. Led by the United States Attorneys’ 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 individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/wvs/PSCpage.html. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and follow the link named “Resources.”