NC Man Gets Decade for Sex Offense Against Minors in W.Va.

David William McConnell, 39, a North Carolina man from Charlotte, was today sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by a quarter-century of supervised release, for his shocking travels across state lines to engage in sexual conduct with minors. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Frank W. Volk.

According to court documents and statements made during the trial, McConnell, between May 15th and May 30th, 2022, used the Kik messaging app to communicate with a woman he believed to be the mother of two young girls living in Beckley, West Virginia. He expressed interest in them and even plotted to meet them in person for sexual acts.

In a chilling admission, McConnell told the woman that he intended to travel from his North Carolina home to a hotel in Beckley on May 30th, 2022. His plans were to shower with both minor children and engage in sexual acts with them. But his scheme was thwarted when he was arrested that very day.

United States Attorney Will Thompson announced the sentence, commending the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) West Virginia Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuted the case with determination.

This conviction is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national effort to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse since 2006. The initiative has been instrumental in identifying, apprehending, and prosecute those who exploit children online. Information on this crucial program can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.

For more details on the case, including related court documents, search Case No. 5:22-cr-124 on PACER.

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