R’land man sentenced to 20 years for child porn
A Ridgeland man who was already a registered sex offender has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the possession of more than 1,000 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, according to Attorney General Lynn Fitch.
The man, Robert Parish Cox, 57, of Ridgeland, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for possession of child exploitation material by Madison County Circuit Judge Brad Mills on on Jan. 24.
“Through our investigation, we uncovered more than 1,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse,” Fitch said.
Cox was already a registered sex offender for previous felony convictions for child exploitation and sexual battery going back to 2002.
The sentencing was announced in Attorney General Lyn Fitch’s January 26, 2022, edition of her newsletter, The General Insider.
“My Cyber Crime Division prosecutes cases against online child predators
throughout the year and in all parts of the State,” Fitch said.
Cox was one of three “online predators” sentenced through her office in the week preceding the release of the newsletter.
The other individuals sentenced included Kristina Lee of Laurel and Melvin Lee Cardwell of Vardaman.
On January 19, Jones County Circuit Judge Dal Williamson sentenced Lee to serve 30 years in the custody of MDOC with 5 to serve and 400 hours of community service following her sentence for three counts of possession of child exploitation material for the more than 50 images and videos of child sexual abuse in her Dropbox and on her cell phone, Fitch’s office said.
On January 21, Calhoun County Circuit Judge Kent Smith sentenced Cardwell to 40 years in prison with 40 to serve and another 10 years of post-release supervision.
“During the course of our investigation, we uncovered over 775 images and videos of child sexual abuse,” Fitch said.
Cardwell was charged with two counts of possession of child exploitation material, 16 counts of production of child exploitation material, and three counts of sexual battery committed over a period of at least three and a half years.
If you suspect a child is being exploited or abused, please report it to NCMEC’s Cybertipline: online or at 1-800-843-5678.