Phillip Daniel Rush Admitted To Sexually Exploiting Two Minor Girls
HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA - A 65-year-old Winchester man who was previously accused of exploiting two young girls, pled guilty yesterday in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Charlottesville.
Phillip Daniel Rush, 65, of Winchester, Va., pled guilty yesterday to one count of production of child pornography. At his sentencing hearing on March 4, 2014, the defendant faces a possible penalty of between 15-30 years in federal prison.
“Mr. Rush’s despicable act of abusing eight and seven year old girls has justly landed him in federal prison," United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “When pornographers like Rush exploit children, they will be held accountable."
According to a factual summary filed during yesterday’s guilty plea hearing, around July 2012, Rush exploited a seven-year-old girl and an eight-year-old girl while they were visiting him. The defendant filmed the two girls engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Specifically, Rush turned on the webcam of his computer and provided a sexual device to one of the girls. He also later provided a jar of Vaseline. The defendant can be seen during various portions of the hour-long film. An adult pornography movie can be heard playing in the background.
The Winchester Police Department began the investigation into Rush after the mother of an older child notified police that her child had viewed the video of the two minor girls Rush’s computer.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Winchester Police Department, the United States Secret Service and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Nancy S. Healey and Heather Carlton are prosecuting the case for the United States.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
