A Brooke County man behind bars is now facing multiple counts of sexual abuse of a minor and child pornography.


Police said 43-year-old Luther E. Hendricks Jr., of Wellsburg, sexually abused a minor and emailed him pornographic pictures.


"A report came in after a disclosure was made by a minor. That report was made to the West Virginia State Police, and Sgt. Scott Adams performed an investigation right after that," Brooke County Assistant Prosecutor Joe Barki said.


It was an investigation Barki said lasted two months and brought about 20 charges.


"That's a fair amount. I've been involved in cases that have had more, and I have been involved in many cases that have had less. So it's a considerable amount, obviously," said Barki.


Those charges are explained graphically in the 10-page indictment: four counts of sexual abuse,10 counts of possession of child pornography, five counts of distributing pornography to a minor and one count of failing to register as a sex offender.


Hendricks was convicted in 2000 of being in possession of child pornography.


Barki said cases like these are difficult for everyone.


"They are difficult to prosecute. They are difficult to defend. And it's a difficult case for the community to accept that this type of thing might be going on out there," he said.


Hendricks will be in court Friday morning in front of Judge Ronald Wilson for his first appearance.