A 21-year-old former resident of Wampum, Pennsylvania, Thomas Hyatt-Baney, has pleaded guilty in federal court to the production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, as announced by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. The plea was entered before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that on June 25, 2023, Hyatt-Baney used his iPhone to create three video clips that showed the sexual exploitation of a toddler. Judge Wiegand has scheduled sentencing for August 28, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to a maximum of 30 years, alongside a potential fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence will be determined based on the federal Sentencing Guidelines, considering the gravity of the crime and the defendant's prior criminal record, if any.
Hyatt-Baney remains detained while awaiting sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is responsible for prosecuting the case.
The investigation, leading to Hyatt-Baney's prosecution, was conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police and Homeland Security Investigations. This legal action is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative introduced in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. The project aims to combat the increasing problem of child sexual exploitation and abuse. It seeks to combine federal, state, and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals engaging in such crimes and to identify and assist victims. Additional details about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
