For Release: Dec. 19, 2006
Contact: J. Tucker Martin or David Clementson
Email: tucker.martin@oag.state.va.us or dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
McDonnell Announces Sentence in Major Child Pornography Conviction
Convicted South Boston Child Pornographer Receives 10 Years in Prison
South Boston - Halifax County Circuit Court Judge Leslie M. Osborn sentenced David K. Tetterton, 41, today to 10 years in prison. The total sentence is 76 years with 10 years active serving time. In September Tetterton was found guilty of 127 felony counts of possession of child pornography and 26 felony counts of reproduction of child pornography.
Speaking about the sentence, Attorney General Bob McDonnell noted, "Possession and reproduction of child pornography are serious offenses and those who commit these crimes will go to prison. Law enforcement will continue to pursue, and bring to justice, those who sexually exploit children. The Halifax community is a safer place because of the arrest, conviction and sentencing of David Tetterton.”
Attorney General McDonnell continued noting, “This case emerged because of the vigilance of two Wal-Mart employees in South Boston. Their actions should remind us that all Virginians must work to eradicate the sexual exploitation of children. I thank Commonwealth's Attorney Kim White and her office, the South Boston Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and my Computer Crime Section for their coordinated effort in successfully investigating and prosecuting this case."
South Boston police officers arrested Tetterton in March for possession and reproduction of child pornography. This arrest was achieved due to the assistance of employees from Wal-Mart who detected Tetterton developing explicit photographs. Tetterton was arrested on 26 counts of reproduction of child pornography and 27 counts of possession of child pornography. A Halifax County Grand Jury indicted Tetterton on an additional 100 counts of possession of child pornography based on material discovered on Tetterton's computer. The Court found Tetterton guilty on all counts on September 14. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children assisted in the analysis of the additional materials. The case was prosecuted by Halifax County Commonwealth's Attorney Kim White and Assistant Attorney General Gene Fishel of Attorney General McDonnell's Computer Crime Section. Tetterton has been held without bond since March.
Today’s sentencing comes a day before Attorney General McDonnell is scheduled to release the findings of his Youth Internet Safety Task Force. Halifax Commonwealth's Attorney Kim White serves as a member of the Task Force. The group has met over the past six months to find ways to further protect Virginia's children against Internet dangers by strengthening laws and recommending educational programs for children and parents. The group will release its final report tomorrow at a 1 p.m. press conference in Richmond.
