Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man pleaded guilty to producing child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made during the plea hearing, Brian Wayne Shaffer, 51, admitted that he used his cell phone to photograph the female genitalia of a prepubescent minor who he was living with in August 2021. Shaffer further admitted that he used his cell phone to upload the photo of the nude minor and sent it to another individual who Shaffer had been communicating with on YouTube. Shaffer admitted he uploaded the photograph using his Gmail address on or about August 24, 2021.  At the time Shaffer produced child pornography of the prepubescent minor, he previously had been convicted of first degree sexual assault of another prepubescent female in Kanawha County Circuit Court.

Shaffer faces a sentence of at least 25 years and up to 50 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 16, 2022.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), the West Virginia State Police - Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the West Virginia State Police.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott is prosecuting the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00195.

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