NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A Williamsburg man was sentenced on Friday to six years in prison for traveling to North Carolina to sexually abuse a child and receiving child pornography from a child in Nebraska.
Court documents said 26-year-old Derek Thomas met Jane Doe #1 online and began a relationship during the summer of 2018 when she was 14 years old. During the summer, both Jane Doe #1 and Thomas sent nude photos of themselves to each other over social media.
Eventually, Thomas traveled to North Carolina to engage in sexual activities with the child. During the same summer, he met Jane Doe #2 online.
Court documents said Jane Doe #2 and Thomas sent nude images of themselves to one another.
Thomas knew the age of each victim before engaging in criminal activity with the children.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
More Crime Stories:
- RELATED: State prison inmate led sex, drug trafficking ring from cell
- RELATED: 'No such thing as a minor hate crime' | Norfolk police investigate racial slur on SUV
- RELATED: Hampton drug dealer sentenced to 25 years behind bars
- RELATED: Newport News man sentenced to prison for straw purchasing a firearm
- RELATED: Does she look familiar? Serial killer admits to murdering woman in Maryland 45+ years ago