Adam Richard Jacobs, 35, of Woods Cross, Utah, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for child exploitation crimes. Jacobs, who worked as a gymnastics coach, admitted to possessing a hidden camera used to produce child sexual abuse material. He pleaded guilty in February 2025 to transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
A U.S. District Court Judge also ordered Jacobs to serve a lifetime term of supervised release after completing his prison sentence.
Court documents and statements made during Jacobs’ plea and sentencing hearings revealed that he transported a minor from Utah to states including Florida and Texas as part of his coaching duties. During these trips, Jacobs placed a hidden camera in the minor’s hotel room and bathroom to record child sexual abuse material.
Investigations further uncovered that an employee at USA Gymnastics World found a hidden camera in a unisex restroom at the facility on two occasions and alerted law enforcement. Authorities later recovered around 120 video files depicting victims in the restroom. Approximately 40 videos showed Jacobs setting up cameras both at his home and at USA Gymnastics World.
In addition to federal charges, Jacobs was charged by the State of Utah in state court where he has entered a guilty plea; sentencing for the state case is pending.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Woods Cross Police Department, Utah Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Kaysville Police Department, Clearfield Police Department, United States Secret Service, and Davis County Attorney’s Office.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Carl Hollan and Assistant United States Attorney Carol A. Dain from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
"This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC."
