Smithfield Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Child Pornography

RALEIGH, N.C. – A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for possessing child pornography.

According to court documents, Mitch Hamilton Parrish, 44, possessed several images of child pornography when law enforcement agents searched his home in Smithfield, North Carolina.  Using digital forensic analysis, agents found child pornography on Parrish’s laptop.  The agents also found internet search terms related to child pornography. 

This is the second time Parrish has been convicted of possessing child pornography.  In 2010, Parrish was convicted in Franklin County Superior Court of three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor relating to possessing child pornography.  Parrish is also a registered sex offender.        

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. Homeland Security Investigations, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Cary Police Department and Johnston County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Parris and Melissa Kessler  prosecuted the case.

This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level.  For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-CR-00168-D.

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