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Man pleaded guilty to largest child porn distribution, production case in the region

According to the Commonwealth's Attorney's office, the amount of child pornography discovered on Thomas Sadler's computer devices was not only the largest store in the county's history, but it was one of the largest cases in the region.

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, Va. (WVEC) — A man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of possession, distribution, and production of child pornography, and a charge of molestation of a child; he was sentenced to 210 years in prison.

In April of 2018, investigators with the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office arrested Thomas Sadler of the 1400 block of Courthouse Highway, Smithfield Virginia.

READ MORE: Deputies: Man who moved around Hampton Roads produced, distributed child porn

The Sheriff's Office received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and in conjunction with the Southern Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force concluding a month's long investigation.

On April 5, a search warrant was issued for Sadler's home, and deputies found and removed numerous electronic devices. On April 9, Sadler was arrested on those warrants and taken to Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk.

On December 12 in Isle of Wight County Circuit Court, Thomas Sadler pleaded guilty to his charges of Distribution of child pornography 1st Offence, four counts of Distribution of child pornography 2nd Offence, Production of child pornography 1st Offence, and Production of child pornography 2nd Offence.

Sadler's 210-year sentence reflected the number of images of child pornography that he possessed and his active role in the production of child pornography.

According to the Commonwealth's Attorney's office, the amount of child pornography discovered on Sadler's computer devices was not only the largest store in the county's history, but it was one of the largest cases in the region.

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