Former Fayette County Law Enforcement Officer Sentenced to 25 Years for Sex Trafficking a Minor
Larry Allen Clay Jr., a former law enforcement officer in Fayette County, West Virginia, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of sex trafficking a 17-year-old girl and attempting to use his position of authority to cover it up. Clay was serving as chief of police with the Gauley Bridge Police Department and as a deputy with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department when he paid a woman $50 on two separate occasions to have sex with her stepdaughter.
The child, identified only by her initials in court proceedings, was the stepmother’s only family and was subjected to sexual exploitation by both Clay and her stepmother. The stepmother pleaded guilty to conspiring to sex traffic her minor stepdaughter and is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence.
Clay’s sentencing came after a four-day trial where he was found guilty of conspiring to engage in sex trafficking of a minor via coercion, sex trafficking a minor via coercion, and obstruction of justice. In addition to the prison sentence, Clay will have 10 years of supervised release, pay $80,000 in restitution to the victim, and register as a sex offender.
The victim reported the abuse to law enforcement, leading to Clay’s arrest. U.S. Attorney Will Thompson commended law enforcement for their handling of the case and emphasized the victim’s bravery in coming forward. Thompson stated that Clay is now in federal prison where he belongs, and urged other victims of sexual crimes to report to law enforcement. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of speaking out against such heinous crimes.
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