Facebook predator gets 7 years in prison
GATE CITY — A Hiltons man charged with using Facebook to sexually proposition minors was given a seven-year prison sentence Friday in Scott County Circuit Court.
Danny Ray Gibson, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of solicitation of sex over the Internet with a person under 18.
As part of his plea deal, Gibson agreed to a 20-year prison sentence with all but seven years suspended.
“We reached a plea agreement in this case,” Scott County Commonwealth’s Attorney Marcus McClung said. “It’s not something that we like to do, but we thought it was fair. He pleaded guilty to both charges and will serve seven years. It also helps expedite the court docket and will let other cases move through a lot more quickly.”
McClung said Gibson’s sentence exceeded state guidelines.
Gibson, who has been incarcerated without bond since his arrest last year, will not receive credit for time served.
In addition to the prison sentence, Gibson was also barred from having any unsupervised contact with minors and was given indefinite supervised probation and two years of community service.
Gibson is not allowed to access the Internet or social media while on probation and must register as a sex offender.
Gibson was indicted last month after being arrested in September 2011 in a “To Catch A Predator” style undercover operation by local and state authorities.
Authorities were made aware of Gibson’s actions on Facebook by parents of the girl he tried to contact.
“The parents started all of this,” McClung said. “They did a fantastic job by noticing this and reporting it to the police.”
Authorities said the parents monitored their child’s Facebook account and got in touch with local and state police after noticing Gibson had sent a friend request to their daughter.
When Gibson asked to speak with the girl over the phone, McClung said a member of the Scott County Sheriff’s Office posed as the girl and set up a meeting with him.
Gibson was taken into custody after arriving at the specified location.
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