Salas Jr. Guilty: Casper Man Convicted of Child Pornography & Assault

CASPER, WYOMING – Salvador Salas Jr., 32, of Casper, Wyoming, is facing a lengthy prison sentence after a federal jury convicted him on six counts of horrific crimes. Salas was found guilty of one count of possession of child pornography and five counts of production of child pornography following a three-day trial concluding January 25, 2023, before Chief United States District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl. Sentencing is scheduled for April 14, 2023.

The case began to unravel after a 13-year-old girl was found to be severely intoxicated and bearing signs of sexual assault after a supposed babysitting session at Salas’s home. The girl’s mother repeatedly checked in via phone, only to be told by Salas that her daughter had suffered an allergic reaction and been given medication. Salas then dispatched the girl home via Uber in the early morning hours. Upon her return, the girl displayed clear signs of methamphetamine intoxication and exhibited burns on her lips, prompting an emergency hospital visit. Doctors diagnosed methamphetamine intoxication and discovered evidence of sexual assault.

A subsequent search of Salas’s residence by the Casper Police Department, initially focused on drug activity, yielded methamphetamine, associated drug paraphernalia, cocaine, and buprenorphine. However, the investigation quickly broadened when officers developed probable cause to suspect Salas had captured sexually explicit images of the minor victim. A second search warrant authorized the seizure of Salas’s electronic devices, which were then analyzed by the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The results were chilling: downloaded child pornography depicting graphic sexual abuse of prepubescent children was found on Salas’s laptop and an external hard drive.

The ICAC Task Force discovered even more damning evidence on Salas’s cellphone – additional child pornography, including video recordings and images of Salas sexually abusing the minor victim. Disturbingly, audio accompanying the videos captured Salas repeatedly stating the victim’s age: 13. Further forensic analysis by the Wyoming State Crime Laboratory recovered Salas’s DNA and semen from the victim’s underwear, solidifying the evidence. During an interview with law enforcement, Salas confessed to engaging in sex acts with the minor and recording them on his cellphone.

United States Attorney Nicholas Vassallo emphasized the gravity of the situation. “This case demonstrates the horrific exploitation of a vulnerable child. Our office, along with our federal, state, and local partners, will relentlessly pursue those who prey on children and hold them accountable for their actions.” The investigation was a collaborative effort involving Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Casper Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Christyne M. Martens and Stephanie I. Sprecher prosecuted the case.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project aims to marshal resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute perpetrators, as well as rescue victims. The case number is 0:21-CR-00077-SWS. Those seeking more information about Project Safe Childhood can visit www.justice.gov/psc.