NORFOLK, Va. — A Newport News police officer charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of children appeared in federal court on Friday.
Sgt. Michael Covey was arrested by the FBI on June 10 for alleged crimes against children. He was taken into custody at the Newport News Police Department headquarters.
In a preliminary hearing Friday afternoon in Norfolk, Covey told a federal magistrate judge he is pleading not guilty.
Covey also waived his detention hearing, meaning he will remain in custody for now.
13News Now obtained documents that show this investigation dates back to another case out of Southeastern Ohio in February. In that Hocking County case, a convicted sex offender by the initials "R.G." is accused of disseminating what looked to be child pornography.
As months passed, court documents showed investigators continuing their efforts and reviewing other files R.G. stored. Agents then found two pictures and three videos of “apparent child exploitation” of an underage girl.
They alleged a connection between those images and the police officer.
On Friday, Covey’s attorney, Tim Clancy, told Judge Douglas Miller his client suffers from PTSD, but that would not impede the case.
If convicted, he could face between 15 to 20 years in prison.
Covey has worked for the Newport News Police Department for about 16 years. He was most recently assigned to the Special Operations K-9 Division. Clancy, declined to comment on behalf of his client, saying it is too early in the process.
Covey is scheduled to stand trial on August 3 with a jury present. The Newport News Police Department placed him on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of the FBI investigation.
13News Now reached out to the Newport News Police Department for a second time for comment, but we have not heard back.