MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. – An office staff member at the CASA for Kids Program of Monongalia and Preston Counties has been charged with distribution and exhibiting materials depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
On Aug. 29, West Virginia State Police received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about an image uploaded by Jessica Joelle Pepper, 28, of Morgantown, that showed a prepubescent female engaged in sexual conduct.
Court documents said investigators confirmed Pepper was the person responsible by verifying the IP address and conducting a search of her Wildwood Street home. During the search, police seized a laptop and cell phone belonging to Pepper.
According to investigators, Pepper told reporters she was a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Monongalia and Preston counties and that she had downloaded and sent child pornography multiple times.
Investigators said additional charges could be filed after a forensic examination of her electronic devices is complete.
According to reports, Pepper has been terminated and they have no knowledge of abuse cases involving Pepper.
Pepper has hired in Jan. of 2023 as a Transitional Youth Coordinator with a $25,000 grant from the Milan Puskar Foundation.
The next scheduled court date is Friday, Oct. 20 at 10:30 a.m.