HUNTINGTON -- A Lincoln County man will spend 25 years in prison for child pornography.

Clinton Combs, 45 of Harts was sentenced Tuesday by Chief United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin to 25 years in prison for production of child pornography.

Combs previously pled guilty in October, admitting he enticed and coerced a minor female to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a video of the same. The conviction stems from a joint investigation conducted by the West Virginia State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Evidence revealed that Combs had sexually assaulted the victim over a course of years beginning when she was age 4. At sentencing, Chief Judge Goodwin considered the length of the abuse, the age of the victim, and the consequences of the abuse in deciding to impose a sentence outside of the advisory US Sentencing Guideline range.

Chief Judge Goodwin further stated that Combs had exploited the minor for many years and "stole her childhood." Assistant United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston handled the prosecution.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims.