Morgantown, West Virginia, man convicted of child porn crimes by federal jury

• Receipt of child pornography April 4, 2019; in Monongalia County;
• Receipt of child pornography Sept. 18, 2020, in Monongalia County.
• Receipt of child pornography Sept. 21, 2020, in Monongalia County.
• And possession of child pornography Sept. 25, 2020, in Monongalia County.

“According to the evidence introduced at trial, FBI agents identified an internet protocol address in Morgantown that appeared to be active in the distribution and receipt of illegal images and videos via a peer-to-peer network,” U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld’s office said in a news release.

“Agents determined that the IP address was associated with Mr. Harp and executed a search warrant, seizing his computers, tablets, phones and thumb drives. Agents discovered hundreds of downloads to Harp’s devices, with many of the videos and images including children under the age of 12,” Ihlenfeld’s office said.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh will impose sentence at a later date.

Harp faces up to 20 years in prison on each count; Kleeh will decide if the counts are grouped, and also will take a probation officer’s input before determining advisory sentencing guidelines.

Assistant U.S. attorneys Jennifer Conklin and David Perri prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

“Protecting young people is one of our most important responsibilities at the Department of Justice,” Ihlenfeld said. “Whenever we identify someone who is engaged in this type of activity, we devote all resources necessary to hold the offender accountable and prevent further victimization of the children involved.”

Morgantown attorney Bryan Edwards represents Harp.

Also:

— Harrison Chief Magistrate Frank DeMarco has postponed the probable cause hearing for Travis Lee Whitt, 35, after a conflict was discovered that prevented the Harrison Defender’s Office from representing him. The court rescheduled the hearing to 10 a.m. May 9.

State Police Cpl. B.W. Claypool recently charged Whitt with two counts of second-offense failure to register or provide notice of changes to sex offender registry.

Whitt failed to register that he had made a private party purchase of a 2006 Ford Focus, and also failed to register the license plate, Claypool alleged.

Whitt had a sex registry conviction in 2017, according to Claypool.

Whitt pleaded not guilty in his first appearance. Harrison Magistrate Kevin Renzelli set a $50,000 cash, surety or 10/90 bond.

Whitt is presumed innocent. If convicted of second-offense failure to register, he could face 10 to 25 years in prison.

Jail records also show a detainer from Whitt’s 2009 conviction. He is on supervised release for that for 50 years. About a decade ago, Harrison Circuit Judge Thomas A. Bedell revoked Whitt’s supervised release and imposed all 50 years as a prison sentence, but then granted a sentencing reduction.

— James Michael Barnett, 45, of Clarksburg, has been charged with felony burglary.

Friday morning, Barnett is alleged to have tried to kick in the front door of his ex-wife’s home before throwing a brick through the front window and going in that way.

Barnett was trying to beat down a bathroom door from where the victim had fled and called 911, according to Clarksburg Pfc. M. Blankenship.

Barnett was found back at his residence with “blood on his hands believed to be from cutting himself on the busted window where he made entry into the victim’s house,” Blankenship alleged.

Harrison Magistrate Warren “Gizzy” Davis set a $10,000 cash or surety bond.