A former Mississippi probation officer has been sentenced to a decade behind bars on child sex crimes.
According to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice, 46-year-old Lonnie Everill pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography in January before being sentenced Monday morning. Everill, of Water Valley, was initially investigated after engaging in chats with another social media user about their shared sexual interest in children.
As the investigation unfolded, FBI officers found over 1,400 images and videos of prepubescent minors engaged in sexual conduct on devices owned by Everill. He had sent and received a number of images and videos of child sex abuse material, as well as selfies and images of local minors not engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Everill formerly worked as a probation officer in Mississippi, Utah, California, and South Carolina. Federal officials said he purposely structured his career to focus on the rehabilitation and supervision of sex offenders, people who committed similar crimes to the one Everill is now locked up on.
“The conduct of this former law enforcement officer was beyond shocking and a gross betrayal of public trust,” Special Agent Robert Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office said. “When someone in a position of authority commits such a revolting crime, the damage extends beyond the youthful victims; it shakes the very foundation of our communities’ trust. No matter their badge or title, the FBI will always aggressively pursue those that prey on our children.”
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the DOJ launched in 2006 that combats the epidemic of child exploitation and abuse. Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted the case.
“Everill’s betrayal of trust has been truly staggering,” U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner stated. “His criminal conduct affected the victims, the community, and undermined the credibility of the great federal probation officers in this district. I truly appreciate the exceptional prosecution led by AUSA Parker King and FBI Supervisor Agent Ryan Berthay that uncovered his crimes and brought him to justice.”
In addition to 10 years in prison, Everill was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victims in the images he possessed and an additional assessment of $10,000. He will be required to register as a sex offender.
