Williamsburg Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography and Threats

News Summary

Xavier Joseph Stafford, a 22-year-old from Williamsburg, has pleaded guilty to threatening a police officer and distributing child pornography. The case, tied to a series of harassing emails that included graphic threats toward the officer’s family, highlights ongoing concerns regarding child exploitation and safety in the digital age. Stafford’s sentencing is set for December, where he faces a minimum of five years in prison. This case is part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative aimed at combating child sexual abuse.

Williamsburg, VA – In a significant legal development, 22-year-old Xavier Joseph Stafford of Williamsburg pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of threatening a local police officer and distributing child pornography. The case is intricately tied to a disturbing pattern of harassment and criminal behavior exhibited by Stafford.

Stafford’s plea includes a charge of one count of distributing obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children, which he sent via email to Officer S.S. This behavior unfolded after Officer S.S. encountered Stafford on duty on February 14 and 15, 2023, when he asked Stafford to move his vehicle from private property.

The confrontation prompted Stafford to deride Officer S.S., whom he referred to as a “rookie,” and quickly escalated when he requested the officer’s professional email address. The following day, Stafford sent an email filled with insults and racist language, targeting the officer’s Hispanic ethnicity. Most notably, this first email found its way into the officer’s spam folder and remained unanswered.

Then, just three days later, Stafford escalated his threats significantly. He sent an email that included a chilling statement: he threatened to “rape your little girl,” embedding graphic threats and detailed descriptions. Notably, Stafford indicated that he was aware of the officer’s home address, suggesting that Officer S.S.’s daughter would grow up under the specter of her father’s inability to protect her. Furthermore, the emails contained animated images depicting sexual violence against children, depicting a large man assaulting a young girl.

The alarming nature of Stafford’s communication led to an FBI investigation that traced the emails back to Stafford. When authorities searched his devices, they discovered numerous images of animated child pornography, including the graphic content that he so disturbingly shared with the officer. Following his arrest by James City County officials, Stafford’s threatening emails ceased.

Stafford’s upcoming sentencing is scheduled for December 4, where he could face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and could potentially be sentenced to as many as 20 years in prison. The U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen will preside over the sentencing. The case is particularly significant as it falls under the purview of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched in 2006 by the U.S. Justice Department aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.

This case against Stafford not only highlights the troubling issues surrounding child pornography distribution and harassment but also reflects broader societal concerns about the safety of children in the digital age. Authorities continue to stress the importance of vigilance and proactive measures to protect vulnerable populations.

The ongoing legal proceedings serve as a critical reminder of the serious consequences associated with criminal actions that threaten law enforcement and exploit children. As the community awaits sentencing, there is broad recognition of the necessity of robust legal responses to such heinous behaviors that impact both victims and society at large.

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HERE Resources

Local Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child Exploitation Material

Additional Resources

• WYDaily: Williamsburg man pleads guilty to sending child sex abuse threats to police officer
• 13 News Now: Man convicted of sending threats of child sex abuse to Williamsburg police officer
• Pilot Online: Man threatens to rape cop’s daughter
• LEX18: Man arrested after making threats to funeral service, Williamsburg police say
• Wikipedia: Child pornography
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Child abuse