The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in part and dismissed in part the conviction and 20-year prison sentence of Beau Thomas Shores for receipt of child sexual abuse material in an unpublished opinion issued February 6, 2026.
Shores pleaded guilty pursuant to a written plea agreement to receipt of child sexual abuse material in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(2)(A), (b)(1). The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, presiding Judge Gina M. Groh, imposed a sentence of 240 months' imprisonment and 30 years' supervised release.
In addition to the prison term, the district court ordered Shores to pay a $100 special assessment, $10,000 in mandatory assessments applicable to offenses involving child sexual abuse material, and $64,500 in restitution.
The appeal, designated as case No. 24-4667, was submitted to the Fourth Circuit on January 22, 2026, and decided by a three-judge panel consisting of Circuit Judges Wilkinson, Quattlebaum, and Berner.
Shores's counsel filed a brief pursuant to *Anders v. California*, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), asserting that there are no nonfrivolous grounds for appeal but suggesting that counsel who represented Shores in the district court provided ineffective assistance. An *Anders* brief is filed when appellate counsel believes there are no meritorious issues to raise on appeal.
The court noted in its opinion that counsel also observed that Shores validly waived certain rights, though the full details of the waiver were not included in the available portion of the opinion.
The case originated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia at Martinsburg, with the criminal case number 3:24-cr-00026-GMG-RWT-1. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kimberley DeAnne Crockett from the Office of the United States Attorney in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Shores was represented on appeal by Shaina L. Richardson of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Christopher G. Robinson of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC in Charleston, West Virginia.
Federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 2252A addresses the receipt, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material. The statute carries severe penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences in many cases. Receipt charges under this section typically carry a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
The Fourth Circuit's unpublished opinion means the decision does not create binding precedent within the circuit. As noted in the court's standard language, "Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit."
Child sexual abuse material cases represent a significant portion of federal criminal prosecutions, with the Department of Justice prioritizing the investigation and prosecution of these offenses. Federal courts have consistently imposed substantial sentences for these crimes, reflecting the serious nature of the offenses and their impact on victims.
The 240-month sentence imposed by the district court represents the maximum allowable under the statute for receipt charges. The 30-year supervised release term also reflects the serious nature of the offense and the ongoing public safety concerns associated with these crimes.
The mandatory assessments totaling $10,100, along with the $64,500 restitution order, are typical components of sentences in child sexual abuse material cases. The $10,000 mandatory assessment was established by federal law specifically for offenses involving child sexual abuse material and is used to fund victim services and law enforcement efforts.
While the Fourth Circuit affirmed certain aspects of the lower court's decision, the partial dismissal suggests that some issues raised on appeal may have been found to lack merit or jurisdiction. The specific grounds for the partial dismissal were not detailed in the available portion of the opinion.
The case reflects the federal judiciary's continued focus on addressing crimes involving the exploitation of children through the distribution and receipt of illegal material. Federal prosecutors in West Virginia and across the country continue to prioritize these cases as part of broader efforts to combat child exploitation.
The conviction and sentence stand as affirmed by the Fourth Circuit, with Shores facing the 20-year federal prison term followed by three decades of supervised release. The substantial financial penalties also remain in effect following the appellate court's decision.