Mercer Pedophile With Child Pornography Pleads Guilty To Federal Charge

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – A 60-year-old Mercer County pedophile faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty yesterday to possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced.  Johnny Richard Rowe, of Bluewell, W.Va., entered a guilty plea on Jan. 6 before Senior United States District Court Judge David A. Faber in Bluefield. 

On June 19, 2013, Rowe possessed pictures of prepubescent minors having sex or performing sexual acts. Rowe possessed the images depicting child pornography on his personal computer.

Rowe is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12, 2014. 

The West Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Lisa 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.