LASHMEET, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A Mercer County man is accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a child over more than two years, according to a criminal complaint requesting warrants for his arrest.
The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Derek Bailey, 25, after the child’s mother reported the alleged abuse on September 1, 2026.
According to the complaint, the abuse occurred at a Lashmeet residence between July 2023 and December 2025, beginning when the child was 12 years old.
The mother told investigators her daughter recently disclosed the abuse. She also provided screenshots of Snapchat conversations and records documenting trips to Mercer County during the period under investigation.
Investigators said the messages included discussions of sexual activity, photographs of the child and the possibility of Bailey going to jail. According to the complaint, Bailey also discussed wanting the child to live with and eventually marry him.
The child participated in a forensic interview at Child Protect of Mercer County on October 8. During that interview, she described repeated sexual contact and alleged that Bailey coerced her into sexual acts.
She also reported that, during an incident in December 2025, Bailey attempted to force sexual intercourse after she told him to stop and held her down when she tried to move away, according to the complaint.
The investigator requested arrest warrants for Bailey based on the reported abuse and evidence gathered during the investigation. He is in jail under an $ 80,000 cash-only bond.
