Jason Donald Brenton, 51, of Evansville, was sentenced on Aug. 4 to 15 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of production and attempted production of sexually explicit material involving minors.
According to court documents, a 19-year-old female victim reported to the Evansville Police Department that she had discovered a hidden camera in her bathroom. After removing the Micro SD card from the device and viewing its files, she found videos of herself fully nude recorded over several years while she was a minor. The victim identified Brenton as the perpetrator, confronted him, and he admitted to the conduct.
Detectives searched Brenton’s cell phone, laptop, and the Micro SD card. Investigators recovered more than 100 videos and 60 images of the victim in the nude as well as sexually explicit images and videos involving her underage boyfriend. The FBI and Evansville Police Department investigated this case. U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman imposed the sentence.
“This defendant violated the privacy and trust of vulnerable victims in the most egregious way, and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his crimes. We are grateful to the investigators and prosecutors who worked swiftly to uncover the truth and ensure accountability, but I especially want to commend the victim for her remarkable courage in coming forward and confronting the offender,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I urge our community to remain vigilant; if you see signs of abuse or exploitation, report it. Your awareness and willingness to speak up can protect children and help prevent future crimes.”
“Hidden cameras, secret recordings, and other forms of covert exploitation are not victimless acts—they are calculated crimes that rob children of their privacy, dignity, and sense of security,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley. “The FBI remains committed to identifying those who prey on children, standing with victims, and ensuring offenders are held accountable for these devastating crimes.” Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Scott Kemper for prosecuting this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006—to combat child sexual exploitation online by marshaling federal resources with state and local agencies.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes across sixty southern counties divided into four divisions; it collaborates with law enforcement agencies at all levels throughout its jurisdiction, according to its official website.