Mercer County Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing Child Pornography

BLUEFIELD,  W.Va. – A 29-year old Mercer County man faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty on Monday, April 21, 2014, to possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced.   Eric A. Hitt, of Princeton, West Virginia entered a guilty plea before Senior United States District Court Judge David A. Faber in Bluefield.

Hitt admitted that on July 16, 2013, he possessed pictures of prepubescent minors engaged in sexual acts.  The images were located on his personal computer. The court scheduled sentencing for August 25, 2014 in Bluefield.

The West Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the  Mercer County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston is in charge of the prosecution.

This case is being brought as part of U.S. Attorney Goodwin’s ongoing initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse in the Southern District of West Virginia.