HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – James Gipson, 59, was sentenced today to 11 years and two months in prison, to be followed by a lifetime on supervised release, for possession of child pornography and a violation of supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 25, 2020, Gipson was living in a Charleston homeless facility when facility staff observed him in a common area looking at child pornography on his laptop. The staff summoned police, who recovered the laptop. A forensic analysis found more than 300 images depicting child pornography on the laptop. Gipson admitted that the laptop was his and that he knew he should not have possessed it.
Gipson was previously convicted of possession of child pornography in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. On March 5, 2012, he was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison and placed on lifetime supervised release. Today’s sentence of 11 years and two months incudes one year and two months for violating his lifetime supervised release.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. Thompson also credited the shelter staff for their vigilance in protecting their facility and its residents.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as 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-92.
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