FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 14, 2012
Contact: Heather F. Williamson
Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office
20 East Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20176-2809
(703) 777-0242
INAPPROPRIATE INTERNET CHATS LEAD TO 5 YEAR PRISON TERM
STAFFORD MAN IS SENTENCED AFTER INTERNET ENCOUNTERS WITH UNDERCOVER DETECTIVE
LEESBURG, Virginia – September 14, 2012. James M. Lewis, 44, appeared before Judge Thomas D. Horne in Loudoun County Circuit Court for sentencing on two felony charges of Using a Communication System to Facilitate Certain Offenses with Children. Horne imposed a total active sentence of 5 years in the Virginia Department of Corrections.
In March 2011, Lewis began internet relationships with a Loudoun County Detective whom he believed to be a 15 year old girl and her 12 year old neighbor. Lewis contacted the fictitious females on numerous occasions via email and Gmail chat. During one chat session Lewis activated his webcam and microphone, exposing himself to the “12 year old” girl.
Lewis entered pleas of guilty to both felony counts on March 23, 2012. He acknowledged the chats, emails and photos he exchanged with the girls, and also admitted that he discussed meeting the girls in person, but never planned to go through with it.
Lewis received an additional 15 years of suspended time and is prohibited from any unsupervised contact with underage females. His internet usage will be monitored by a probation officer upon his release, and he will be required to undergo sexual offender treatment during the 10 years of supervised probation. Pursuant to Virginia’s Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act, Lewis will also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was part of an undercover operation conducted by Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the area Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force.
Lewis, a Stafford County resident, may face additional charges elsewhere as the investigation into his activity continues.
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