Lawrence man sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for possessing child sex abuse images

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that Michael W. Wicks, 54, of Lawrence, was sentenced to 123 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for three counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

“We remain unyielding in our resolve to safeguard our children alongside our law enforcement partners,” District Attorney Valdez. “Child sexual abuse material has devastating and long-lasting effects on children and it requires our collective effort to combat.”

Judge Sally Pokorny sentenced Wicks, who pleaded guilty in February, to 55 months for the first count and 34 months each for the remaining two counts. Each sentence will run consecutive to one another and to a sentence Wicks received in Jefferson County for the same offense in 2020.

Wicks, who must register as a sex offender for life, also must serve lifetime post-release supervision.

Charges stemmed from a cyber tip received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in May 2022 when the Lawrence Police Department was advised that Wicks electronically received child sexual abuse material.

Deputy District Attorney Joshua Seiden represented the State of Kansas. The matter was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.