A Lodi man pleaded guilty earlier this week to crimes related to child sex abuse material, drug dealing and weapons, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.
Thomas Plowright, 56, first came to the attention of investigators in summer of 2023 when he was suspected of download and uploading files of child sexual abuse material on the internet, prosecutors said.
That September, a search warrant was issued for his residence in unincorporated Lodi, where detectives reportedly found numerous electronic devices and an unregistered firearm.
Analysis of his electronic devices revealed over 1,300 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, the sheriff’s office said.
A follow-up search warrant last January netted additional firearms and ammunition, as well as a large amount of various narcotics packaged for sale, including fentanyl, methamphetamine and GHB, which also known as the “date rape drug”.
Plowright was arrested on Jan. 25 and was booked into San Joaquin County Jail.
On Monday, Plowright pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material, being a felon in possession of firearms, possessing narcotics for sales.
He was sentenced to 6 years in state prison and will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.