Robert Luke Divine, a 30-year-old resident of Crittenden, Kentucky, was sentenced on May 8 to 235 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for attempted enticement of a minor and distribution of child pornography.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal and local authorities to address crimes involving the exploitation of children. Divine's sentence follows an undercover operation conducted by the Boone County Sheriff’s Department on January 15, 2025. According to his plea agreement, Divine arrived at a hotel intending to engage in sexual activity with a woman and her 14-year-old daughter. Upon arrest, he admitted his intentions and possession of child pornography on his cell phone.
A search of Divine’s electronic devices revealed extensive evidence, including an Apple iPad containing hundreds of videos and thousands of images depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Investigators found that he had traded CSAM via Telegram in December 2024. Some files depicted bestiality and minors under the age of twelve.
Under federal law, Divine must serve at least eighty-five percent of his sentence before being eligible for release. After completing his prison term, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for twenty years. Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Colin Jackson, Acting Special Agent in Charge with Homeland Security Investigations; and Les K. Hill, Boone County Sheriff announced the sentencing.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Leonhard prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky enforces federal laws—including those against child exploitation—and works with community partners on issues such as drug abuse prevention and elder protection according to the official website.
