Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Martinsville Man Sentenced on Child Pornography Charges, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
DANVILLE, Va. – A Martinsville, Virginia man was sentenced last month to 140 months in prison for possessing child pornography and possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony.
According to court documents, Terrance Antwain Penn, 38, came to the attention of law enforcement in December 2019 after a minor female reported having sexual contact with him on several occasions. The minor told police Penn used a phone to record this sexual activity and provided descriptions of two cell phones Penn possessed.
On December 7, 2019, authorities initiated a traffic stop on a car being driven by Penn. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed two cell phones matching the descriptions given by the minor, as well as a loaded Taurus, model G2C, 9mm semi-automatic pistol in the center counsel.
Investigators obtained search warrants for Penn’s phones, which contained videos of the defendant having sexual contact with the minor female.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar of the Western District of Virginia and Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The investigation of the case was conducted by ATF, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Martinsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin B. Johnson prosecuted the case for the United States.