Hurricane Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offense

 HURRICANE, W.Va. – Shea Owen Marsh, 32, of Hurricane, pleaded guilty today to possessing child pornography. Marsh was charged in a single-count Information in April 2021. Marsh was previously indicted last August for possessing child pornography.

According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Marsh downloaded videos and images of child pornography onto his cell phone several times while at his residence in Hurricane.

Marsh faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on July 19, 2021.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation.  United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott is handling the prosecution.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00126 and 3:21-cr-00043.