NEWPORT –– Daniel Blow, a 41-year-old man from Charleston, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material, commonly known as child pornography. The sentencing took place on October 20, and was announced by the United States Attorney’s Office.
The mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years stems from Blow’s previous felony conviction in New York State for a related offense. Following his prison term, Blow will be under supervised release for eight years, as ordered by United States District Judge Christina Reiss.
The case unfolded when a social media platform alerted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about a user who had uploaded 41 files believed to contain child sexual abuse material. The Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received the tip from NCMEC. The user’s IP address was tracked back to Blow’s Charleston residence. His past criminal record in New York further solidified the suspicions.
Homeland Security Investigations agents secured a federal search warrant for Blow’s home, leading to the discovery of incriminating material on his phone and desktop computer. Disturbingly, a covert video was found on a small recording device, showcasing a teenager changing clothes.
Blow was seen in the footage, hiding the camera and retrieving it afterwards. The search also yielded multiple firearms, including an M-4 style Colt rifle, at the premises.
Authorities have not provided further information regarding any additional charges Blow might face concerning the weapons found at his residence or the covertly recorded video.
