Woman who adopted infant to make 'sexually explicit videos' sentenced to 40 years in prison
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (TND) — A California woman has been sentenced to 480 months in federal prison over her sexual abuse of two adopted children, one of whom is an infant.
Stefani Kasey Marie Stevens, 31, of San Bernardino County, obtained custody of the infant "for the purpose of producing sexually explicit videos," according to a press release from theU.S. Attorney's Office of the Central District of California on Monday.
After a four-day bench trial, Judge [Virginia A.] Phillips in November 2022 found Stevens guilty of one count of obtaining custody of a minor with intent to produce child pornography, six counts of production of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography," the release says.
Judge Phillips was also the one who passed down Stevens's four-year sentence, according to theU.S. Attorney's Office in California's Monday announcement.
Law enforcement became aware that, from Aug. 2019 to Nov. 2019, two accounts on the freeware instant messaging app "Kik"uploaded child sexual abuse material.
Those accounts were later revealed to belong to Stevens. It was also determined that a Google account run by Stevens had uploaded seven sexually explicit images of the same victim, according to the release, which adds that the victim was under the age of 12.
In Nov. 2019, federal agents reportedly executed a search warrant of Stevens' home. The U.S. Attorney's Office in California says that Stevens admitted in interviews to making sexually explicit videos of herself performing oral sex on the infant, and that she took nude photographs with another child victim who is under the age of 12.
Law enforcement was also able to learn from accessing Steven's online accounts that she had expressed excitement with another user about adopting the infant so that she could make thosesexually explicit videos. Stevens stored the sexually explicit content in an online account "along with hundreds of other child pornography images and videos," according to the release.
This defendant has been punished for acting out her vile sexual fantasies on two children – one of them an infant,” United States Attorney Martin Estradasaid in the release. “Sexual exploitation of children is intolerable, and my office will aggressively prosecute these horrific crimes. Today’s significant sentence is yet another example of my office’s determination to hold accountable those criminals whose abhorrent conduct causes immeasurable trauma upon those who are among the most vulnerable people in our district.”
Individuals that victimize innocent children will be aggressively pursued and held accountable for the heinous offenses they commit,” Eddy Wang, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Acting Special Agent in Charge, said in the release. “This case and its prosecution should send a clear message, if you come after children, HSI and our partners will come after you."
Judge Phillips scheduled a restitution hearing for Stevens' case for July 31, federal prosecutors say. Once released from prison, Stevens will be placed on supervised release for the rest of her life.