Middlesboro man sentenced to prison over sexual offenses involving a minor

From WRIL -

A Middlesboro man arrested Wednesday evening September 11, 2019, charged with sexual offenses has been sentenced in Bell Circuit Court.

Then 23-year-old Matthew Dewayne Sparks was charged by Middleboro Police Lt. Barry Cowan with prohibited use of an electronic system to procure a minor for sex offenses and possessing matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor.

Sparks was accused of engaging in conversations via Facebook messenger by phone with 15-year-old female and having pictures depicting sexual content of the girl in his possession.

On Wednesday, March 15, 2023, now 26-year-old Sparks was sentenced to four years confinement in prison with five years of supervision after being discharged. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for twenty years.

He is booked in the Bell County Detention Center awaiting transfer to prison.