United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke has sentenced Johnathan Freeman Hunt, a 56-year-old resident of Spokane, Washington, to 12 years in federal prison for the receipt of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, Judge Dimke ordered Hunt to undergo 10 years of supervised release.

The investigation into Hunt began in July 2022 when law enforcement agents discovered that he had distributed several files containing child pornography over the internet. On November 30, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at his residence and confiscated multiple electronic devices. A forensic examination revealed that these devices contained 11,149 files of child sexual abuse material involving children under the age of 12.

During an interview with law enforcement officers, Hunt confessed to downloading and sharing this material using peer-to-peer software. It was also noted that he had a prior conviction for Third-Degree Child Molestation in 2017.

U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref emphasized the importance of protecting children from harm as part of her office's mission to maintain safety in Eastern Washington communities: “Protecting children from harm remains a priority in my office and is critical to building a safe and strong Eastern Washington community,” she stated.

Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy highlighted the seriousness of Hunt's actions: “The sentence handed down today reflects the severity of the crime and underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting children from exploitation,” he said. Murphy oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in the Pacific Northwest.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick.