Charles K. Young, Receipt of Child Pornography, VA 2024

Charles K. Young, 69, of James City County, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to receipt of child pornography—a crime that came to light after a family member turned him in. The plea, entered in federal court in Newport News, marks the latest chapter in a disturbing case involving thousands of illicit images and a breach of trust within his own household.

The sordid details began to unravel in August 2016, when a relative contacted the James City County Police with a chilling accusation: Young was in possession of child pornography. That tip provided investigators with enough evidence to secure a search warrant. When law enforcement raided Young’s home, they seized multiple electronic devices loaded with digital contraband.

Forensic analysis revealed the true scope of Young’s criminal conduct—more than 22,000 images of child pornography were recovered from his devices. Among the material was a video he admitted to receiving, depicting minor males engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The sheer volume of the collection suggests a prolonged and deliberate pattern of exploitation and consumption of child abuse material.

On November 15, 2016, a federal grand jury indicted Young on charges of receipt of child pornography. The crime carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars. While Congress sets the statutory maximum, the actual sentence will be determined by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar, who will consider federal sentencing guidelines and other legal factors at the May 17 hearing.

The case was announced by Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa R. McKeel is leading the prosecution, underscoring the federal government’s relentless focus on rooting out child exploitation networks—even when they operate in quiet suburban homes.

Court documents and related information are available through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or via PACER under Case No. 4:16-cr-78. The fall of Charles K. Young is a grim reminder: predators don’t always lurk in shadows. Sometimes, they live just next door.

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