Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the sentencing of Derek Allen Reed, a Fayette County resident, to five to 15 years in prison. Reed was found guilty of using social media to contact a minor and arrange a meeting for what he believed would be a sexual encounter.
Reed, 35, from Uniontown, was apprehended at the designated meeting location in June 2023. In November, he pleaded guilty to multiple felonies, including unlawful contact with a minor and dissemination of explicit sexual materials to a minor.
After serving his prison term and parole, Reed will undergo five years of probation. Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender for 25 years.
Attorney General Sunday emphasized the risks posed by social media platforms: “This case is yet another alarming example of how social media can be used by predators to harm and exploit minors.” He praised the victim's courage in documenting the online interactions and informing her mother, who then contacted law enforcement.
Reed initially encountered the 15-year-old victim while visiting an ex-girlfriend’s home. He later communicated with her via Facebook and Snapchat, sending inappropriate images and making explicit comments.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Angela Raver prosecuted this case.