Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Fayette County Woman Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Trafficking Charge

 CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A woman from Fayette County pleaded guilty today to an offense related to sex trafficking a 17-year-old minor female.  Kristen Naylor-Legg, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor under the age of 18.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on two separate occasions in June 2020, Naylor-Legg entered into an agreement with her co-defendant, Larry Allen Clay, Jr., to provide him with her 17-year-old minor female relative and Clay would pay Naylor-Legg to engage in sexual intercourse with the minor. At the time, Clay was an employee of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and the Chief of Police for the Gauley Bridge Police Department. Naylor-Legg admitted that on the first occasion she was paid $100 by Clay. On the second occasion, Naylor-Legg indicated that Clay had agreed to pay her $50 in exchange for sexual intercourse with the minor but ultimately did not give her the money.

Naylor-Legg faces up to life in prison when she is sentenced on December 9, 2021. She will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the West Virginia State Police, and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is handling the prosecution.

Co-defendant Larry Allen Clay, Jr., is charged with conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor via coercion and sex trafficking of a minor via coercion. Clay’s trial is set for November 9, 2021. Note: Charges contained in indictments are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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