A Columbia man will be facing significant time behind bars for child exploitation.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced that 63-year-old Darryl Powell has been sentenced to 40 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections with ten years to serve followed by five years of post-release supervision.
Investigators with the attorney general’s office discovered more than 1,800 images and videos of child sexual abuse in Powell’s possession.
“My top priority is protecting our state’s most vulnerable citizens,” Fitch said. “I am grateful my team was able to proactively identify, investigate and prosecute this perpetrator. Together, we are making Mississippi a safer place for everyone. If you suspect a child is being exploited or abused, please report it to my office. Your tip could save a life.”
Powell will now be required to register as a sex offender.
Anyone with information about a child being sexually exploited online is urged to report it to (1-800) 843-5678. The hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Tips are reported to the Attorney General’s Office.
Online reports can be made here.
