United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke has sentenced Johnathan Freeman Hunt, a 56-year-old resident of Spokane, Washington, to 12 years in federal prison for the receipt of child pornography. The sentence also includes 10 years of supervised release following his prison term.
Hunt came under investigation by law enforcement in July 2022 after distributing several files containing child pornography over the internet. A search warrant executed on November 30, 2022, at Hunt's residence led to the seizure of multiple electronic devices. Forensic analysis uncovered 11,149 files depicting child sexual abuse involving children under the age of 12.
During an interview with law enforcement officials, Hunt confessed to downloading and sharing child sexual abuse material using peer-to-peer software. Notably, he had a prior conviction for Third-Degree Child Molestation in 2017.
"Protecting children from harm remains a priority in my office and is critical to building a safe and strong Eastern Washington community," stated U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. She expressed gratitude for the efforts of prosecutors and investigators involved in holding individuals accountable for exploiting children through technology.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy, who leads Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in the Pacific Northwest, commented on the sentencing: "The sentence handed down today reflects the severity of the crime and underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting children from exploitation." He emphasized that possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material is illegal and perpetuates victim suffering.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick.