Appy man convicted on child porn charges

An Appalachia man faces the potential of an effective life sentence after pleading guilty to 60 counts of possessing child pornography.

Michael Lewis Varner, 33, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Wise County Circuit Court, according to Commonwealth Attorney Chuck Slemp. He did not have a plea agreement, so his sentence will be determined by a judge following witness testimony.

In October 2018, an officer certified to investigate internet crimes against children received a report of a recent child porn download in the Appalachia area, according to a press release. Investigators obtained a search warrant and located several electronic devices belonging to Varner. Analysis found electronic files containing more than 60 images depicting small children engaged in sexual acts with adults.

Varner confessed that he downloaded and viewed the images.

Sentencing is set for April 29. Varner could face up to 595 years in prison.

Senior Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Dan Fast prosecuted the case. Virginia State Police investigated with assistance from the Wise and Russell county sheriff’s departments.