Grayson County Man Pleads Guilty To Production, Distribution And Possession Of Child Porn

OWENSBORO, Ky. – A Millwood, Kentucky, man, has pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Joseph H. McKinley on Monday, to multiple counts of production and distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman.

James D. Armes, 37, of Grayson County, Kentucky was indicted on five counts of production of child pornography, two counts of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography on May 9, 2018. On Monday, Armes admitted before the Court his guilt on all counts.

According to a factual basis of the charges before the Court, on or about December 2, 2017, Armes’s wife, looked at his cell phone and observed pictures of an eight month old relative with Ames in sexual situations.

On January 2, 2018, the Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained a federal search warrant to search the cell phone for child pornography.  Several images and videos of child pornography were located on the phone including the images described by Armes’ wife.  The review of his cell phone revealed eight videos and seven images of child pornography, involving two victims, that Armes produced.

Because of Armes prior rape conviction, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years imprisonment and not more than 350 years, a fine of $2,000,000, and supervised release of not less than 5 years and not more than life.

This case is prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Spencer McKiness.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grayson County Sheriff’s Department.

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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. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.