Child Porn Suspect Cuts A Deal
City Man Pleads Guilty, Sentenced To 13½ Years
Posted: January 31, 2013
HARRISONBURG — A Harrisonburg man accused of trying to solicit sex from a dozen girls over the Internet pleaded guilty Wednesday in Rockingham County Circuit Court.
Jamie Wayne Dyson, 34, pleaded guilty to five felony counts of distributing child pornography, two felony counts of procuring a minor for obscene material, four felony counts of soliciting a child by computer and one felony count of possession of child pornography. Prosecutors dismissed 28 charges in exchange for his guilty pleas.
As part of a plea deal, Judge James Lane sentenced Dyson to 70 years in prison with all but 13½ years suspended.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Clark Ritchie said one observant parent from Grottoes helped crack the case.
“Our paramount concern is always to protect children,” Ritchie said after the hearing, adding that parents play a key role in stopping sexual predators. “Parents have to be vigilant and know what their children are seeing and communicating with on the Internet.”
The investigation into Dyson began Dec. 22, 2011, when the parent contacted Special Agent Chad Morris of the Virginia State Police.
During the hearing, Ritchie said the parent informed Morris that a Facebook user who went by the name of Brad Masters solicited his 13-year-old daughter for sex on Dec. 19, 2011.
Ritchie said there is no evidence Dyson met in person with any of the 12 victims, who ranged from 12 to 15 years old, but he was able to persuade them to send him pictures of themselves performing lewd acts.
Those pictures were shared online with other girls in hopes of persuading them to send pictures of themselves, Ritchie said.
During an interview with police, Ritchie said, Dyson told investigators that “the girls didn’t do anything they didn’t want to do.”
As part of the investigation, Ritchie said, the social networking site provided Morris with the “Masters” login information and IP address, which was traced to James Madison University. Dyson was employed by Aramark, a food service company contracted to operate JMU’s dining halls.
Through an administrative subpoena issued to JMU, police say they were able to identify Dyson as the suspect.
Clark said Dyson was logged in on JMU’s Internet network on his personal computer while chatting with some of the victims.
He also worked part time at Massanutten Resort.
Following Dyson’s arrest on Jan. 26, 2012, investigators seized his personal laptop computer, which was located in the employee area of Massanutten Resort’s ski lodge.
Contact Pete DeLea at 574-6278 or pdelea@dnronline.com
Jamie Wayne Dyson, 34, pleaded guilty to five felony counts of distributing child pornography, two felony counts of procuring a minor for obscene material, four felony counts of soliciting a child by computer and one felony count of possession of child pornography. Prosecutors dismissed 28 charges in exchange for his guilty pleas.
As part of a plea deal, Judge James Lane sentenced Dyson to 70 years in prison with all but 13½ years suspended.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Clark Ritchie said one observant parent from Grottoes helped crack the case.
“Our paramount concern is always to protect children,” Ritchie said after the hearing, adding that parents play a key role in stopping sexual predators. “Parents have to be vigilant and know what their children are seeing and communicating with on the Internet.”
The investigation into Dyson began Dec. 22, 2011, when the parent contacted Special Agent Chad Morris of the Virginia State Police.
During the hearing, Ritchie said the parent informed Morris that a Facebook user who went by the name of Brad Masters solicited his 13-year-old daughter for sex on Dec. 19, 2011.
Ritchie said there is no evidence Dyson met in person with any of the 12 victims, who ranged from 12 to 15 years old, but he was able to persuade them to send him pictures of themselves performing lewd acts.
Those pictures were shared online with other girls in hopes of persuading them to send pictures of themselves, Ritchie said.
During an interview with police, Ritchie said, Dyson told investigators that “the girls didn’t do anything they didn’t want to do.”
As part of the investigation, Ritchie said, the social networking site provided Morris with the “Masters” login information and IP address, which was traced to James Madison University. Dyson was employed by Aramark, a food service company contracted to operate JMU’s dining halls.
Through an administrative subpoena issued to JMU, police say they were able to identify Dyson as the suspect.
Clark said Dyson was logged in on JMU’s Internet network on his personal computer while chatting with some of the victims.
He also worked part time at Massanutten Resort.
Following Dyson’s arrest on Jan. 26, 2012, investigators seized his personal laptop computer, which was located in the employee area of Massanutten Resort’s ski lodge.
Contact Pete DeLea at 574-6278 or pdelea@dnronline.com