A Palmdale resident is set to appear in court following a federal grand jury indictment on charges related to child pornography and enticement of minors. Darius Desean Edwards, 21, faces allegations of coercing two underage girls into creating and sharing sexually explicit content with him.
The indictment against Edwards includes five counts each of production and receipt of child pornography, along with two counts of enticing a minor for criminal sexual activity. He was employed by the Palmdale Department of Parks and Recreation until his recent dismissal.
According to court documents, between October and December 2023, Edwards allegedly engaged in inappropriate conversations with a 16-year-old girl, persuading her to send him illicit material. In March 2024, he reportedly communicated with a 15-year-old girl under similar circumstances, receiving multiple images and videos from her.
The legal process requires that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. If convicted, Edwards could face significant prison time: at least five years for each count of receipt of child pornography, a minimum of 15 years for each count related to production, and between 10 years to life imprisonment for enticement charges.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lyndsi Allsop from the Violent and Organized Crime Section will prosecute the case.