Fort Novosel Sergeant Major Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Charges

A senior noncommissioned officer at Fort Novosel, Alabama, was arrested Thursday on charges related to producing child pornography, local police records show.

Command Sgt. Maj. Josh Prescott, the top enlisted leader for 1st Battalion, 223rd Aviation Regiment, was booked in Coffee County, Alabama, on one charge of production of media involving a minor in "obscene actions," and another count of possession of child pornography.

It's unclear whether Prescott, 41, has hired an attorney yet. Prescott could not be reached for comment. It's also unclear whether the Army will file its own charges against him: As of Monday afternoon, Prescott has not yet been suspended from duty, according to a Fort Novesel spokesperson.

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If convicted in civilian court, Prescott faces one to 10 years in prison for possession of child pornography and two to 20 years for producing child pornography.

Prescott assumed the role of command sergeant major of 1-223rd Aviation Regiment in May after serving as an operations sergeant major at Fort Eustis, Virginia, for a year. Previously, he had served in senior roles at Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort Carson, Colorado, according to his LinkedIn account.

The 1-223rd Aviation Regiment oversees flight instruction, including the CH-47 Chinook flight and instructor course.

Last year, another senior noncommissioned officer was sentenced to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to adultery and distributing child pornography.

Command Sgt. Maj. Jeremy Compton, 46, served as the enlisted leader of the 46th Engineer Battalion at Fort Johnson, Louisiana, previously known as Fort Polk. Compton was reduced to the rank of private and dishonorably discharged; he also had to register as a sex offender.

Army Pvt. Travis King, who crossed into North Korea last summer, faces child pornography charges in military court. King's lawyer and prosecutors are in the midst of working out a plea deal. King also faces charges related to assault and making false official statements.

The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, a new set of special prosecutors who take on the service's most egregious cases, has not yet made a decision whether it will get involved with Prescott's case, according to a spokesperson with the office. Right now, the case is being handled by civilian authorities. If convicted under military law, Prescott would face 30 years in prison if found guilty of producing child pornography, and an additional 10 years for possessing child pornography.

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