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Des Moines Woman Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Charges
A Des Moines woman has been sentenced to a total of 45 years in prison for conspiring to produce child pornography and child exploitation. Ashley Marie Butler, age 33, was found guilty of the heinous crimes on multiple occasions.
According to court documents, Butler produced child pornography on at least three occasions in 2021 when she videorecorded her co-defendant and husband, Shane William Butler, sexually abusing a minor victim. Videos of the sexual abuse of the minor victim and child pornography were located on Shane Butler and Ashley Butler’s cell phones.
Chief United States District Court Judge Stephanie Marie Rose imposed a 30-year sentence on the conspiracy count and a 15-year sentence on the production count, to be served consecutively, for a total sentence of 45 years. After her prison term, Butler was also ordered to serve a total of 10 years of supervised release.
In addition to her prison sentence, Butler was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution as well as a $200 fine to the Crime Victim’s Assistance Fund. This is a significant blow to the community and a step towards justice for the victim.
The case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department, the Polk County Attorney’s Office, the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa prosecuted the case.
A co-defendant, Shane William Butler, also received a 45-year sentence in December 2022 for his role in the child exploitation charges.
Ashley Marie Butler, Defendant, Exact Criminal Charges: conspiring to produce child pornography and child exploitation, City and State: Des Moines, Iowa, Exact Date: February 24, 2023, Sentence or Outcome: 45 years in prison, $3,000 in restitution, $200 fine to the Crime Victim’s Assistance Fund.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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