Thomas Vernon Patnode, 35, has pleaded guilty to 10 counts of possessing child pornography. The charges stem from a cyber tip received by Norfolk Police from a messaging app company last year. This tip alerted authorities to illicit images and videos found on Mr. Patnode’s cell phones.
On September 15, 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children informed Norfolk Police detectives that someone in Norfolk had uploaded child sexual abuse material on the Kik Messenger app. The images depicted young children in inappropriate situations. Detectives traced the account back to Mr. Patnode and obtained search warrants for his residence and devices.
Police searched Mr. Patnode’s home on February 5, took him into custody, and seized two cell phones from his bedroom. After being read his rights, Mr. Patnode admitted the phones contained illegal content. Investigators confirmed this after examining the devices.
On July 2, Mr. Patnode agreed to plead guilty to one count of possessing child pornography and nine counts of subsequent-offense possession of child pornography. He faces up to eight years and six months in prison as part of this plea agreement. Judge Jamilah D. LeCruise accepted the plea deal and scheduled sentencing for September 12.
“The receipt and sharing of Child Sexual Abuse Material perpetuates the harm to innocent children from sexual abuse,” stated Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Mr. Patnode harmed real victims with real feelings, and he will now face a prison sentence as a result.”
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney J. Drew Fairbanks is prosecuting the case, with Detective David A. Benjamin leading the investigation.
