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Former Ripley police officer sentenced for child porn

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A former police officer in Ripley is heading to prison for child pornography.

According to a release from U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin’s Office, George Michael Puskas II, of Ripley, was sentenced Monday to one year and one day in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release.

Puskas previously pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography back in July.

The release said Puskas established a sexual relationship with a then 16-year-old minor in March 2010. Puskas told police he maintained the relationship until the individual turned 18-years-old.

While in the relationship, Puskas produced images and a video of the minor having sex or performing sex acts. According to the release, he used a police department-issued digital camera to create the video and a cellphone to create images of child pornography.

The release said Puskas possessed between 10 and 150 images of child pornography on September 7, 2011.

The West Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force on April 6, 2012, executed a search warrant and seized a computer, a flash drive and other items that Puskas used to produce child pornography.

During the relationship, Puskas was an officer with the Ripley Police Department. He resigned in May 2012 after being charged.

Upon completion of his prison term, Puskas will be placed on supervised release for 10 years. In addition, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.





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