Charlottesville Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Child Exploitation in Warren County

A Charlottesville man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for child exploitation offenses following an investigation by the Front Royal Police Department and the Virginia Attorney General’s Office.

Avery Wood, 54, was convicted in Warren County Circuit Court of Use of a Communications System to Solicit a Minor and Distribution of Child Pornography. While his total sentence is 40 years, 25 years were suspended, meaning he will serve 15 years of active incarceration.

AVERY WOOD

Upon release, Wood will be placed on supervised probation, must register as a sex offender, and will be prohibited from contacting minors or using the Internet without approval and monitoring by his probation officer.

Undercover Investigation Leads to Arrest

The case began in November 2022, when a Front Royal Police Department detective, conducting an undercover online operation, reported Wood’s activity to the Attorney General’s Computer Crimes Section. Wood believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl and sent sexually explicit videos and images, including child pornography, to the undercover officer.

Wood later traveled to a hotel in Front Royal to meet the supposed minor, where authorities arrested him. A forensic examination of his phone confirmed chat logs and illicit content.

Attorney General Pledges Continued Efforts

Attorney General Jason Miyares praised the prosecution, reaffirming his office’s commitment to combating child exploitation.

“The Office of the Attorney General has zero tolerance for these kinds of crimes,” Miyares said. “We will continue working with law enforcement to aggressively investigate and prosecute offenders.”

Efforts to Combat Online Exploitation

Wood’s conviction underscores the ongoing threat of online predators and the importance of law enforcement efforts to protect minors. Authorities warn that child exploitation cases are increasing, particularly through social media and messaging apps, where offenders attempt to groom victims.

The Northern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which played a key role in the investigation, is one of several task forces nationwide dedicated to identifying and prosecuting individuals engaged in online child exploitation.

The Front Royal Police Department urges parents to monitor their children’s online activity and report any suspicious interactions. Community members can report suspected child exploitation through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline or by contacting local law enforcement.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Cynthia Paoletta and investigated by the Front Royal Police Department, the Attorney General’s Computer Crimes Section, and the ICAC Task Force.

Charlottesville man charged with solicitation of minors