GREENBRIER COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Jason Shortridge, 40, of Ronceverte, was sentenced today to 14 years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, for possession and attempted distribution of child pornography.
Shortridge must also register as a sex offender and pay restitution.
A federal jury found Shortridge guilty of both counts on June 10, 2022, following a four-day trial.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on May 1, 2019, Shortridge downloaded child pornography and made it available for sharing online using a peer-to-peer file sharing program.
Law enforcement subsequently executed a search warrant at Shortridge’s residence and seized a computer belonging to Shortridge.
A forensic examination of the computer located hundreds of images of child pornography, primarily from the deleted space of the computer.
Two computer forensic experts testified that during their examination of Shortridge’s computer, they recovered child pornography as well as search terms used to actively search for child pornography.
Evidence showed that Shortridge possessed over 600 computer graphic image files containing images and videos of child pornography involving prepubescent minors.
“This defendant caused substantial harm, as possessing child pornography encourages and records the sexual exploitation and rape of children,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “Today’s sentence reflects the severity of that harm.”
Thompson commended the investigative work of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the West Virginia State Police, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Blackwell, Monica D. Coleman and Francesca C. Rollo prosecuted 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.