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February 5, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Valley Grove Resident Convicted on Child Pornography Charges

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — A 47 year old Valley Grove, West Virginia, resident was convicted by a Federal Trial Jury today (February 5, 2010) in United States District Court in Wheeling before Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr.

Acting United States Attorney Betsy C. Jividen announced that GARY RAY DEBOLT was convicted of all counts of a seven-count Superseding Indictment after a three-day trial. Specifically, DEBOLT was convicted of five counts of receipt of child pornography via the internet in December 2008 and January 2009 in Valley Grove; and two counts of possession of child pornography from October 2008 to January 2009, in Valley Grove.

DEBOLT, who is currently free on bond, faces a penalty of 5 to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on each of the receipt of child pornography charges; and a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on each of the possession of child pornography charges.

A Detention Hearing for DEBOLT has been scheduled for Monday, February 8, 2010, before Judge Stamp.

“We are very happy with the work of the West Virginia State Police and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force because our children are our future and protecting them is one of the priorities of our office and the Task Force,” stated Acting USA Jividen.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Perri. The case was investigated by the West Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is headed-up and organized by the West Virginia State Police.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.