Bland Correction Center employee arraigned on charges for child pornography by Mercer Co. Sheriff’s Dept.

PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) – A Bland Correctional Center employee was arraigned on child pornography charges by the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday, July 11, 2024.

This employee, 37 year-old Christopher Erickson, was arrested at a traffic stop on three different counts of child pornographic charges.

According to Lieutenant Steven Sommers of Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, Erickson was being monitored for four months by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alabama Bureau of Investigation, and the West Virginia State Police Internet Crimes against Children Taskforce.

Lieutenant Sommers told 59News what the next steps are in this Erickson case.

“This is still an active investigation. Within 10 days, [Erickson] will have a preliminary hearing. As far as the investigation, there is a lot of forensic evidence to go through and additional avenues of investigation in West Virginia and Alabama,” said Sommers.

Erickson was arrested for two counts of possession and distribution of child pornography. The other count was for using a minor to film sexually explicit conduct.

One count for child pornography was for 50-600 images and the other was for 600 or more images.

Although Erickson works in Bland, Virginia, he lives in Bluefield, West Virginia.

Mercer County Sheriff’s Department was able to make the arrest as Erickson was on his commute to work.

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