GREAT FALLS -Jaycob Tyler Kutzera, 23, from Redlands, California, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court. U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris sentenced Kutzera to 180 months’ imprisonment. Upon his release, he will be on supervised release for 5 years. Kutzera was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim.
The case stems from a 2016 investigation. In April 2016, the mother of a 12-year old girl contacted the Great Falls Police Department. The mother, formerly of Great Falls, stated that she had looked through her daughter’s cell phone and saw sexually explicit communications between her 12-year old daughter and a male. The mother also saw sexually explicit images. During its investigation, the Great Falls Police Department determined the 12-year old girl engaged in sexually explicit communications with Kutzera via Facebook and other online applications. Kutzera requested sexually explicit images of the girl during their online chats. Great Falls Police Detective Jesse Slaughter traveled to California, seized Kutzera’s cellular phone and computer pursuant to a search warrant, and interviewed Kutzera. During the interview, Kutzera admitted that he knew the girl was 12 years old, yet he continued to engage in the sexually explicit communications with her. He also continued to receive images and videos of the child engaged in sexual conduct. He also sent the child images of himself masturbating. Kutzera’s conduct continued from April through October 2016.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee L. Peterson. This case was investigated by members of the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Great Falls Police Department, DHS-Homeland Services Investigations and FBI Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory. This case was initiated under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative which was launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Through a network of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, Project Safe Childhood attempts to protect children by investigating and prosecuting offenders involved in child sexual exploitation. It is implemented through partnerships including the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The ICAC Task Force Program was created to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by enhancing their investigative response to technology facilitated crimes against children.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
