A St. Albans man was sentenced Friday to two years in prison for distribution and exhibition of child pornography.
Gary Adkins, 33, possessed 291 videos and four images that depicted minors performing sexual acts. He received the maximum sentence of two years in prison and was also ordered to serve extended supervision, which will require he serves 50 years in prison if he violates the terms of his sentence, which include registering as a sex offender.
"You were not candid with the court about the extent of your involvement with the files," said Kanawha Circuit Judge Duke Bloom during the sentencing.
Adkins, who did not comment at the sentencing, had said he accidentally downloaded child pornography and immediately stopped viewing it when Bloom questioned him about his actions during the pre-trial hearing in June.
He eventually admitted to possessing the near 300 videos and photos when he pleaded guilty.
At least 50 known victims of child pornography were identifiable in the images and videos found on his computer, according to Kanawha County assistant prosecutor Fred Giggenbach.
"These are not victimless crimes," Giggenbach said. "The more that people watch these egregious videos, the more victims there are."
Reach Kayla Asbury at kayla.asbury@wvgazettemail.com, call 304-348-3051 or follow @kasbury_ on Twitter.