Henri Bladimir Benitez Ramirez, 28, appeared before the Loudoun County Circuit Court for sentencing for his convictions of one count of Possession of Child Pornography, and two counts of Possession of Child Pornography (Second Offense). The Honorable Douglas L. Fleming, Jr. sentenced Benitez Ramirez to serve an active period of incarceration of five years in the Virginia Department of Corrections. Benitez Ramirez is also required to register as a sex offender for life.
In the summer of 2023, the Leesburg Police Department received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s cyber unit relating to images portraying the sexual assaults of children. The investigation conducted by the Leesburg Police Department led to Benitez Ramirez and showed that he downloaded digital files containing child pornography.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Benitez Ramirez’s Leesburg residence on July 9, 2024, in which they recovered several electronic devices containing child pornography.
“This individual was apprehended thanks to the Leesburg Police Department’s successful operation and investigation. Holding the consumers of this abhorrent material accountable is essential to thwarting the circulation and production of child pornography,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Bob Anderson.
During the sentencing hearing, Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Anna Hammond argued for a sentence above the guidelines saying, “[Benitez Ramirez] did not hold himself accountable … blames others for the situations he places himself in … portrays himself as the victim … we may not know those children’s names, but they are the real victims.”
The punishment range recommended by the Virginia Sentencing Guidelines was approximately one and a half to four and a half years.
Defense counsel for Benitez Ramirez sought leniency, arguing that “there is an active detainer and he will be deported to El Salvador.”
Before he pronounced Benitez Ramirez’s sentence, Judge Fleming said, the “videos—all of them involved children, quite young … one particularly disturbing, was toddler aged.” Benitez Ramirez was sentenced to five years on each count, to be served concurrently.
Pursuant to Virginia’s Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act, Benitez Ramirez will be required to register as a sex offender for life. Information about Virginia’s Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry and those on it can be found on the Virginia State Police website.
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