AUGUSTA, GA – In a chilling case of child sexual exploitation, Columbia County man Hector Salazar Torres, 30, has been sentenced to nearly 30 years in federal prison for producing images of child sexual exploitation. Torres was handed down a sentence of 325 months after pleading guilty to the heinous crime, according to Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Torres to pay $9,600 in restitution and assessments, register as a sex offender, and serve 20 years of supervised release upon his prison term’s completion, emphasizing there is no parole in the federal system.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Steinberg praised law enforcement for their relentless pursuit of predators like Torres. “The most vulnerable citizens in our community are safer when predators are behind bars,” she said.
According to court documents and testimony, Grovetown police officers were investigating the reported sexual assault of a child when they seized Torres’ cell phone. The FBI’s review of the contents revealed dozens of images and videos of child sexual abuse, including one featuring a toddler. Through meticulous investigation, investigators matched an image in the video to a scar on Torres’ hand, confirming his involvement in producing the video with his own device.
Additionally, Torres faces state prosecution on child molestation charges involving unrelated victims.
The Senior Supervisory Special Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Augusta office, Matthew Ploskunak, emphasized the gravity of the offense. “Torres’s sentence will give him plenty of time to think about his unacceptable behavior, but more importantly, while in prison, he won’t be able to harm any more children,” he said.
The case was a joint effort between the FBI and the Grovetown Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Jason W. Blanchard prosecuting on behalf of the United States. Those with information regarding suspected child sexual exploitation are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678 or visit https://report.cybertip.org.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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