Joshua W. LaForrest, 28, of Evansville, Indiana, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of child sexual abuse materials.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers learned that LaForrest was transmitting images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct through his Kik account and his cellular telephone.
A search warrant was executed at LaForrest’s residence in Evansville on July 22, 2021. LaForrest was interviewed by police, and he admitted to posting videos containing child sexual abuse materials to a Kik discussion group on December 7, 2020, and February 28, 2021. During the search, police seized LaForrest’s cellular telephone. The cellular telephone was examined, and it contained communications between LaForrest’s Kik application, chat groups, and other individuals in which LaForrest transmitted and received child sexual abuse materials. The materials LaForrest transmitted and received included sexually explicit depictions of children under twelve years old.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers and Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office, announced the sentence.
The FBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the Indiana State Police. U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young imposed the sentence, which includes seven years of supervised release following LaForrest’s release from federal prison. LaForrest must also register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or attends school, as required by law.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger for prosecuting the case.
The investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies led by the Indiana State Police. The Task Force is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting crimes involving the technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children and the trafficking of child sexual abuse material.
Defendant: Joshua W. LaForrest
Criminal Charges: Distribution of child sexual abuse materials
City and State: Evansville, Indiana
Exact Date: July 22, 2021 (sentencing)
Sentence or Outcome: Eight years in federal prison, seven years of supervised release
Related Federal Cases
- Joshua W. LaForrest Sentenced to 8 Years for Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Materials, Evansville IN, 2023 · Indiana
- Brian Ray, Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material, Indiana 2023 · Alabama
- Zachary William Thomas, Child Sexual Abuse Material Distribution, Tampa FL 2025 · Alabama
- Michael Wilcox, Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material, New Hampshire 2024 · New York
- Kasey Ludberg, Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Indiana 2023 · New Hampshire
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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