A Cornville man, Wade Willette, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for accessing child sexual abuse material. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court in Bangor as Judge Stacey D. Neumann delivered the verdict. Willette had previously confessed to the charges on October 3, 2024.
The investigation began in August 2020 when a user reached out to an FBI online covert employee through the Kik Messenger app. The contact was initiated after the officer had posted on an online bulletin board known for attracting those interested in child pornography. The communications and email address used were traced back to Willette. Subsequently, in January 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTip from Kik about the same user uploading three illicit videos the prior month.
In March 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Willette’s residence. During the investigation, FBI agents questioned Willette, who admitted ownership of the Kik account and acknowledged searching for and viewing inappropriate material on his phone. He also confessed to engaging in online conversations about such content. Evidence retrieved from his phone included two images of young children being sexually abused.
The case was investigated by the FBI and forms part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice established in May 2006 to tackle the increasing rates of child exploitation and abuse.
To report any incidents related to child sexual exploitation, individuals are encouraged to contact NCMEC. Further resources for victims in Maine are available through a 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline.
