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Three Arrests in Internet Crime Sting

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Posted: 12:10 PM Jun 12, 2008
Last Updated: 12:10 PM Jun 12, 2008
Reporter: Anna Baxter
Email Address: anna.baxter@wsaz.com

12 comments

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Three men from Charleston face child pornography charges after a Sting Operation in Kanawha County.

The West Virginia State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force made the arrests Wednesday night.

Carl J. Bowlin, 18, Benjamin Blount, 23, and Joshua Blount, 23, are charged with possession of child pornography.

Investigators say the Digital Forensics Unit is also helping with the investigation and we're told more charges could be filed in the case.

All of the suspects are out of jail on bond. They face up to two years in prison and a $2,000 fine.

State Police say they're planning more sting operations in Kanawha County and in some of the surrounding counties.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Shelly on Jun 19, 2008 at 02:37 PM
I hear that since their daddy is a Mason he hired his Mason buddy lawyer friend and these guys are gonna get off scott free...apparently the whole family thinks this is some kind of joke, and that those computer geek 23 yr old mommas boys wouldnt ever do anything like that! Makes me wonder, what else have they done, that daddy (who just happens to work for the State of WV, is a Mason and practically the Mayor of Loudendale has done to keep these sweet boys out of jail?

Posted by: frank on Jun 13, 2008 at 07:02 PM
Great work VA ICAC! Kardasz - AZ

Posted by: karla on Jun 13, 2008 at 06:59 AM
i just wanted to let everyone know about a website, peoplefinders.com, you can search anywhere and find the names and adresses of all registered sex offenders, i am a mother of four girls, and i think this site is very important and helpful, the more we know, the safer our children are

Posted by: karla on Jun 13, 2008 at 06:49 AM
if the law was one strike and your out these scum bags wouldn't have a chance to keep doing this over and over. what is it going to take to stop this from happening. how many live have to be turned upside down before this law gets changed, it is really sad that this can happen and the person not spend the rest of their life behind bars, even if they were only looking at it on the internet, they are haveing sexual thoughts about children and that should be enough to be put away for ever, because how long will it take before they actually do something to a child.

Posted by: BILL on Jun 12, 2008 at 11:15 PM
COMPLETE DISGUST!!! THIS CRIME I FEEL IS WORSE THAN MURDER. I REALIZE MURDER IS A HORRIBLE CRIME, USUALLY THE PERSON IS 18 YEARS OR OLDER (VICTIM). THE CHILD IS JUST STARTING THERE LIFE AND THEY ARE ALREADY TRAUMATIZED FOR LIFE. THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH SOMETHING THAT WILL HAUNT THEM. I AM A VICTIM OF SEXUAL ABUSE FROM AN OLDER MALE. I WAS 7 YEARS OLD WHEN I WAS A VICTIM TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND HIS FATHER WAS A FIRE FIGHTER. IT BOTHERS ME TO SEE THIS, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS. THIS PARTICULAR CRIME SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE LIFE IN PRISON. THERE IS NO REHAB FOR PHETOPHILES, THERE IS REHAB FOR DRUG ADDICTS, BUT NOT THIS TYPE OF PERSON. THEY WILL ALWAYS BE THAT WAY. THEY WILL NEVER CHANGE. EVERY TIME THEY SEE A CHILD IT WILL BE SAME THOUGHT AND POSSIBLY ANOTHER VICTIM. GET RID OF THEM, DONT HOUSE THEM IN PRISONS GET RID OF THEM FOR GOOD. HOW CAN SOMEONE BE SEXUALLY GRATIFIED BY WATCHING SMALL CHILDREN HAVE SEX. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING. IF MY CHILD THERE WOULD NOT BE A COURT DATE!!!

Posted by: jessica on Jun 12, 2008 at 07:54 PM
this is disgusting. good question ryan. i think they go deeper than that though

Posted by: Yes Ryan on Jun 12, 2008 at 07:25 PM
...and we're coming for you next.

Posted by: Beth on Jun 12, 2008 at 05:33 PM
They should not even be out on bond. I hope they get prison time. I agree Justice with you, they are the lowest scum on earth.

Posted by: unknown on Jun 12, 2008 at 05:19 PM
Reply to Ryan on Jun 12,2008 2:11pm What r u afraid you will be next? They have their ways, they can track anybody doing anything on the internet back to their computer... Dont do this sick stuff and u wont get caught....

Posted by: Reader on Jun 12, 2008 at 03:45 PM
Ryan, you don't have to worry about the porn sites you visit. Just don't think about taking photos of kids and passing them along on the internet.

Posted by: ryan on Jun 12, 2008 at 02:11 PM
How do you catch someone doing this? Do they check your internet sites you visit or what?

Posted by: Justice on Jun 12, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Out on bond already. Just got to love our legal system. Why is it that these predators serve less time than dope smokers. They are the lowest scum of the earth.

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