A federal judge sentenced Donald Robert Wilt Edwards, Sr., a West Virginia resident, to 25 years in prison on July 29 for sexually exploiting a minor in Maryland.
U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin also ordered Edwards, age 30, to serve lifetime supervised release following his prison term. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland, along with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul of the FBI Baltimore Field Office, Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department, and Colonel Jack Chambers of the West Virginia State Police.
According to court documents, Edwards recorded himself abusing and exploiting a three-year-old child in June 2024. He produced two images and one video depicting the abuse and distributed them online using the Kik messaging application. Investigators reported that he possessed additional child sexual abuse material on his cell phone and social media accounts.
In December 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Edwards’ residence in Elkins, West Virginia, seizing multiple electronic devices. Further investigation uncovered more illicit material on these devices and within his social media accounts.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006—to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating federal, state, and local resources to identify offenders and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood is available at www.justice.gov/psc.
Hayes commended law enforcement agencies involved in the case as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reema Sood and Paul E. Budlow for prosecuting it. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland serves nearly six million residents across Maryland; prosecutes federal crimes; handles civil cases for the United States; collects government debts; employs over 200 personnel across its divisions; enhances quality of life through justice administration; counts alumni among prominent leaders; and is part of the U.S. Department of Justice, according to its official website.