A Winchester man who filmed himself sexually exploiting two sleeping children has pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges, marking a grim end to a case rooted in betrayal and abuse. LaMarcus Thomas, 32, admitted in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg, Virginia, to two counts of producing child pornography—crimes that unfolded while the victims, both minor boys, were defenseless and unaware.
Thomas was indicted on January 13, 2016, on six counts, but entered a guilty plea today on two counts of production of child pornography. The charges stem from digital evidence recovered after Winchester Police launched an investigation in fall 2014, following allegations that Thomas had molested the two children. Arrested on state sex crime charges, Thomas led investigators to a cellphone that became the smoking gun in the case.
Forensic analysis of the device uncovered multiple images and videos of child pornography, each depicting the same two minor boys. In the footage, Thomas’s hands and genitals are visible as he assaults the victims, who appeared to be asleep during the recordings. Thomas confirmed to investigators that he produced the material and identified both himself and the minors in the videos—acts that underscored the depth of his violation.
The investigation revealed Thomas had cultivated access to the children, spending extended time with them—including overnight stays—allowing him the opportunity to commit and document the abuse. His position of proximity and trust made the exploitation all the more sinister. The victims’ identities are being withheld to protect their privacy.
The case was jointly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Virginia State Police, and Winchester Police Department. Prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy S. Healey and Trial Attorney Leslie Williams Fisher from the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), who emphasized the coordinated effort to bring Thomas to justice.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. By uniting federal, state, and local agencies, the program targets predators who use technology to abuse children. More information is available at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Related Federal Cases
- Lucas Aronson Gets 17 Years for Child Porn Production · Washington
- Gregory Jerome Lee Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Production · Alabama
- Navy Chief Sterlin D. Williams Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Production · Virginia
- Bryan Wesley Petitt Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Production · Virginia
- Arlington Man Pleads Guilty to Downloading 83K Child Porn Images · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex CrimesSex CrimesSex CrimesSex Crimes