1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Chris Zumpetta-Parr, Public Affairs Specialist

August 14, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brooke County Man admits to
Production of Child Pornography in his Home

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - A Brooke County man has admitted to producing child pornography in his Follansbee home by taking explicit photos and videos of young girls who were guests of his children.

Today in United States District Court in Wheeling MICHAEL JOHN JONES, 40 years old, entered a plea of guilty to the felony offense of "Sexual Exploitation of a Child." JONES agreed in court that he took photos of young girls who stayed and slept over at his home as guests of his own children. Evidence offered at the plea hearing indicated that in addition to taking still photos JONES also took hidden videos of the girls bathing and showering in his home.

The investigation began in February of 2012 when members of the West Virginia State Police were advised that a video produced locally by JONES had been sent to a man in North Carolina. A search warrant was then obtained for JONES' home where thousands of images and videos were recovered, including eleven images and videos that were made by JONES.

JONES, who is in custody pending sentencing by Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr., faces a term of imprisonment of 25 years in prison if the binding agreement is accepted by the court. He also faces lifetime supervision by the court, lifetime registration as a sex offender, and the possibility of being civilly committed after serving the prison sentence.

This case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld, II, and was investigated by the West Virginia State Police - Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC).