A woman from Mansfield, Texas, has pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation of children after producing explicit videos involving a minor. The announcement was made by United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Marisa Witkop, 31, was indicted by a federal grand jury in October last year. According to court documents, she created four videos featuring a nine-year-old child and distributed some of them through a social media application. Each count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison. Witkop faces up to 120 years if given the maximum sentence on all counts. Sentencing is set for June 9, 2026, before Senior United States District Judge Terry R. Means in Fort Worth.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the Mansfield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. Project Safe Childhood coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to find and prosecute those who exploit children online as well as identify victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at http://www.justice.gov/psc.
For resources on internet safety education related to this issue, visit http://www.justice.gov/psc and click on “resources.”
