Two Central Virginia men are facing a combined 120 felony charges after Hopewell authorities accused them of creating and possessing child sexual abuse material. Police identified the men as 40-year-old Christopher Lee Tellez of Hopewell and 41-year-old Willy Ellis Slate of Chesterfield County.
According to WRIC ABC 8News, Slate faces 60 felony counts of possessing child sexual abuse material, while Tellez faces 30 counts of possession and an additional 30 counts of production. Per a police release dated Oct. 29, 2026, both men were arrested on charges tied to child sexual abuse material, with Slate accused of possession-related crimes and Tellez accused of offenses involving production, possession, or both.
Charges Still Mounting as Investigation Continues
The station's report notes that police are continuing to investigate the case, leaving open the possibility that additional details or charges could emerge as the case moves forward. No information about victims, dates of the alleged conduct, or the men's custody status was included in the account.
The case also highlights the weight Virginia law places on these offenses. Under Virginia law, any person who knowingly possesses child pornography is guilty of a Class 6 felony, a baseline that underscores the scale of the charges facing both men.
Community Partnership Behind the Arrests
The arrests, the same account notes, were made possible through collaboration involving the Safe Surfin' Foundation and Hopewell Moose Lodge 1472, which coordinated a donation of equipment supporting the Internet Crimes Against Children investigation. That kind of community-level support feeds into a broader law enforcement structure: the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program was developed in response to the growing number of children and teenagers using the internet and other technology, alongside what the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program describes as the proliferation of child sexual abuse images available electronically.
A related report offers details on the task force's work. The Virginia General Assembly received an annual report from the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force dated September 18, 2025, describing its expenditures and performance results for the reporting year.
How to Report Information
Anyone with information can contact the Hopewell Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at 804-541-2284. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Hopewell Prince George Crime Solvers hotline at 804-541-2202 or through the P3Tips app.
