A Norfolk man is heading to prison for more than eight years after pleading guilty to possessing graphic child sex abuse material.
On Friday, Circuit Court Judge Jamilah D. LeCruise sentenced Thomas Vernon Patnode, 35, to 8½ years in prison—the maximum sentence allowed under the plea agreement he entered earlier this summer.
This case started last fall when Norfolk Police were tipped off by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. They had flagged that someone in Norfolk had uploaded explicit images and videos of toddlers and young children using the messaging app Kik.
Detectives tracked the activity to Patnode and secured warrants for his home and devices. On February 5, officers searched his residence, arrested him, and seized two cell phones from his bedroom. According to police, Patnode admitted the phones contained illegal images. Investigators confirmed the phones were loaded with graphic content involving children.
Patnode later pleaded guilty to 10 charges—one for possession of child pornography and nine more for subsequent offenses. The court could have suspended part of his sentence, but Judge LeCruise chose to impose the full 8½ years. An additional 12½ years were suspended, contingent on Patnode meeting several post-release conditions:
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Five years of good behavior
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Supervised probation (for an indeterminate period)
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Mandatory sex offender registration
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Completion of a sex offender treatment program
Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi addressed the impact of Patnode’s actions:
“Mr. Patnode may not have abused children himself, but by consuming and sharing child sex abuse material with others he has perpetuated the harm against innocent children. We have secured a sentence… that will protect children and the community from his actions.”
This case is one in a string of local prosecutions aimed at targeting digital predators and deterring the spread of CSAM in Virginia communities.