Former Law Enforcement Officer Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Crime

Kenneth McCord, 56, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to production of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

2 reports on this incident · first at Aug 18, 2026, 4:53 p.m. ET

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 25, 2026, 8:22 p.m. ET

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Kenneth McCord, 56, of Charleston, pleaded guilty on August 18, 2026, to production of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. The plea was entered in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, case number . According to court documents and statements made in court, between March 4, 2024, and February 4, 2025, McCord communicated with a 15-year-old male resident of California via text messages, other online messaging, and video-calling platforms. McCord admitted that he knew the individual was a minor, that he persuaded and enticed the minor to send sexually explicit images and videos, and that these included live video transmissions of the minor masturbating and displaying his genitals. He also admitted sending obscene materials, including live video of himself, to the minor. McCord is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. He must also register as a sex offender and owes restitution in an amount to be determined by the court. Because McCord pleaded guilty, he has not been tried, and the case remains pending until sentencing. McCord is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and his guilty plea does not constitute a conviction until the court accepts it and enters a judgment. McCord is retired from the West Virginia State Police and was a senior investigator with the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations at the time of the offense. U.S. Attorney Moore Capito announced the plea and commended the investigative work of the FBI. Senior U.S. District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is prosecuting the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Earlier reports

Aug 18, 2026, 4:53 p.m. ETFirst report
Former Law Enforcement Officer Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Crime
On August 18, 2026, former law enforcement officer Kenneth McCord, 56, of Charleston, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to production of child pornography in federal court. According to official court documents released by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, the case remains open and developing following his plea. McCord is retired from the West Virginia State Police and was serving as a senior investigator with the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations at the time of the offense.
According to official records in case 2:25-cr-52, McCord communicated using his phone with a 15-year-old male resident of California via text messages, online messaging, and video-calling platforms between on or about March 4, 2024, and on or about February 4, 2025. McCord admitted to persuading and enticing the minor male to send sexually explicit images and videos of himself, including live video transmissions displaying his genitals. McCord further admitted that between June 2024 and February 2025, he sent obscene materials and live video transmissions of himself to the minor male.
United States Attorney Moore Capito praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its work on the case, stating, "This case represents a staggering and unforgivable betrayal by someone entrusted to uphold the law and safeguard the community." The case was brought under Project Safe Childhood and presided over by Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber, with Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuting. McCord is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8, 2026, where he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, sex offender registration, and restitution in an amount to be determined by the court.

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Version 126 Aug 2026, 00:22current
First published.
Version 118 Aug 2026, 20:53current
First published.

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