Harrison County man admits to child pornography charge

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jeremy Smith, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a child pornography charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Smith, age 37, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of Child Pornography.” Smith admitted to possessing images of a child under the age of 12 in March 2018 in Harrison County. 

Smith faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis J. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bridgeport Police Department investigated. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.