Man allegedly sent messages about sexual acts with children on state-owned computer

MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS) — A Mingo County man is accused of distributing child pornography after messages to and from a state computer at a West Virginia prison were examined, court documents say.

Derrick Scott Blankenship, 28, of Delbarton is accused of distributing more than 50 and fewer than 599 images or videos depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, according to a criminal complaint filed in Mingo County District Court.

The allegation stems from a February investigation in which officials were notified of questionable activity on computers at the Southwestern Regional Jail. Blankenship is accused of exchanging messages with an individual encouraging sexually explicit conduct toward minors, the complaint states.

A search warrant was subsequently issued for Blankenship’s home and a cell phone was seized, which investigators said contained files containing child pornography.

Eyewitness News has reached out to state authorities for comment.