Victoria Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – James Peyton Busbee Jr., 30, of Victoria, has entered a guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child, otherwise known as production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

On Feb. 3, 2015, authorities responded to Busbee’s residence in reference to the possible sexual assault of a child. A minor male relative was identified and confirmed the abuse. Busbee also admitted to sexually assaulting the child.

A forensic examination of Busbee’s phone led to the discovery of an electronic video depicting Busbee involved in sexually explicit conduct with the child.

Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey accepted the guilty plea today and set sentencing for Feb. 1, 2016. At that time, Busbee faces a minimum of 15 and up to 30 years in federal prison. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Busbee also faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which time the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children and prohibit the use of the Internet.

Busbee was arrested on the federal charges in April 2015 and has been in custody since that time where he will remain pending his sentencing hearing.

The charges were the result of an investigations conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Victoria County Sherriff’s Office.

This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."