Ohatchee Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Child Exploitation

BIRMINGHAM -- A federal judge today sentenced an Ohatchee man to 20 years in prison for receiving, possessing and distributing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

U.S. District Judge Abdul K. Kallon sentenced KENDALL ADAM HESTER, 29, on the child pornography charges. A federal jury convicted Hester in August. He has remained in custody since his conviction. Judge Kallon ordered Hester to remain on supervised release for 20 years following completion of his prison term.

Hester searched the Internet and downloaded child pornography using peer-to-peer computer software, according to court records. In December 2012, law enforcement agents found 342 videos of child pornography on a computer and compact disks at Hester's home. The videos showed graphic sexual acts involving children under age 12, some as young as 2 or 3 years old, and included sadistic sexual acts involving bondage, according court documents.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chinelo Dike-Minor and Daniel J. Fortune prosecuted.