A Kotzebue man, Jesse Hadley, 33, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually exploiting a minor female in Bethel by surreptitiously filming her and possessing child pornography. After his release from prison, Hadley will be under court-mandated supervision for an additional 25 years. The sentence handed down is the statutory maximum penalty for this offense.
According to court documents, on July 30, 2023, the mother of the minor victim contacted local police after discovering a video on a family electronic device that showed Hadley placing a hidden camera in the bedroom of the minor victim. The camera subsequently recorded the minor entering the room and captured her in a state of undress. Hadley later retrieved the device.
Hadley pleaded guilty on June 17, 2025, to one count of sexually exploiting a child to possess child pornography.
In issuing the sentence, the Court highlighted Hadley's abuse of trust and noted his history of violence against women and girls.
“Mr. Hadley, a man with a history of assault and domestic violence, continued his deplorable pattern of behavior by secretly filming and exploiting the minor victim. His actions resulted in the statutory maximum penalty for his offense,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “My office continues to prioritize protecting Alaska’s children, wherever they live. We will continue to work closely with all our law enforcement partners across the state to track down child predators and hold them accountable for their reprehensible actions.”
“Not only was Hadley’s behavior disturbing and predatory, but also an egregious abuse of trust,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Protecting children is one of our most critical responsibilities. The FBI will continue to identify and hold accountable those who exploit our most vulnerable.”
“The Bethel Police Department is committed in efforts to investigate and combat child exploitation online, particularly in rural areas like Bethel, Alaska, where the spread of internet-related offenses can be more challenging due to geographic isolation,” said Chief Jeffrey Kirkham of the Bethel Police Department. “Public cooperation and reporting reinforce the importance of cooperation between local, state, and federal agencies to address these crimescomprehensively, and obtain justice for the victims bringing those responsible accountable for their actions.”
The case was investigated by both the FBI Anchorage Field Office and Bethel Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney prosecuted.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006—which coordinates federal, state, and local resources to locate offenders who exploit children via technology or online platforms as well as rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
An update clarified that this release corrected Hadley's city of residence.
