Ketchum Man Sentenced to 20 years in Federal Prison for Producing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

BOISE – Sebastian Hanks, 22, of Ketchum, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.

According to court records, the investigation began when the FBI became aware that Hanks was attempting to access child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the internet.  The FBI obtained a federal search warrant to seize and search Hanks’ electronic devices.  During a forensic examination of Hanks’ cellphone and tablet, the FBI located numerous files of CSAM, including depictions of prepubescent children being sexually abused by adults.  The FBI determined that Hanks had obtained some of the CSAM files from the dark web.  The FBI also located approximately 200 images of juvenile females wearing clothing such as swimsuits and leotards.  Several of the images show the juveniles in sexually suggestive positions or with the focus on their genitals.  Hanks’ tablet contained over 100 graphic fictional stories about adults sexually abusing children.  The FBI also found explicit images of two prepubescent children. The investigation revealed that Hanks had taken the photographs of the prepubescent children while he was babysitting them.

U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also sentenced Hanks to serve 20 years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $38,150.76 in restitution to victims in the images he produced and possessed.  Hanks will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.

“The defendant’s crimes are hard to fathom and painful to describe,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit.  “He not only exploited children by obtaining awful child pornography images, but he also produced images of children he was trusted to care for. The lengthy sentence in this case is necessary for public safety, and I am grateful to the investigators, prosecutors, and victim advocates who achieved justice.  This case reflects our commitment to partner with law enforcement in all parts of Idaho to protect our children.”

“This sentence represents the hard work of our multijurisdictional team of investigators and prosecutors,” said Attorney General Raúl Labrador.  “I’m grateful for the continued commitment of every participating agency to keep our kids safe from abuse and exploitation, and for the courts that recognize the seriousness of these crimes.”

U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the FBI, the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, and the Blaine County Prosecutor’s Office, which led to the charges.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kassandra McGrady and Erin Blackadar.

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.  As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal 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 www.justice.gov/psc.

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