A Somerset man was sentenced in federal court on November 4, 2026, to 32 years in prison following a joint investigation by the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office and the FBI.
Jesus Chavez, 33, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier after pleading guilty to two counts of the production of child pornography, according to a press release from the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office. Investigators stated that Chavez used a hidden camera and his cellphone in October and November 2022 to record himself engaging in sexual acts with a minor.
In addition to the federal sentence, Chavez faces pending state charges. He was indicted in Pulaski Circuit Court in 2025 on multiple counts—including rape, sodomy, human trafficking involving a victim under 18, and sexual performance offenses—with his next court appearance scheduled for January 7, 2027. He also faces multicount indictments returned in 2024 in other jurisdictions, including Russell County.
The federal prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative.
