(Spokane, WA) – U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref, highlighted several prosecutions involving crimes against children in Eastern Washington during the last year. “Cases involving the abuse of young children are some of the most difficult matters that my office handles,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “It is my honor to lead such a talented team of prosecutors and investigators, who work tirelessly to achieve justice on behalf of vulnerable victims.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office brings these cases in federal court through its partnership with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC). The ICAC program – which was developed in response to an ever-increasing number of children and an ever-increasing number of online images depicting child sexual abuse – provides funding to help state and local law enforcement develop an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and Internet crimes against children. The ICAC program also provides forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, and community education.
“Without the dedication of our state and local partners through the ICAC, many of those responsible for these terrible crimes may not have been held to account,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref.
In remarks shared from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Attorney Waldref highlighted the following child exploitation cases prosecuted by her office in the past year:
- Michael Emineth and Malesa Hale engaged in years-long sexual abuse of a minor victim and recorded images depicting the abuse. In January 2024, Emineth was sentenced to 30 years, and Hale was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison.
- Robert Wayne Hutton placed a camera, hidden in a clock radio, on a bathroom counter in order to secretly film his victim undressing. The camera was wirelessly linked to Hutton’s smartphone, which Hutton used to view the recordings. In March 2024, Hutton was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
- Rick Lynn Johnson used his phone and computer to download and share thousands of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. In May 2024, Johnson was sentenced to 5 years in prison and ordered to pay $60,000 in restitution to seven of his victims.
- Dallas Michael Shuler worked at Riverside Elementary School. According to court documents, he allegedly admitted to conversing with more than two dozen minors regarding sexual content, including by sharing and trading sexually explicit pictures and videos. In December 2024, Shuler was charged with producing and distributing child sexual abuse material and online enticement.
- Gerald Alan Nott, who is a registered sex offender, was using the internet at his parent’s home in Richland, Washington to download and distribute more than 1,000 files depicting child sexual abuse material. In August 2024, Nott was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
- Lucas Murphy contacted his victim online and asked the victim to send sexually explicit photos. Murphy later kidnapped the victim from Eastern Washington and subjected her to repeated physical and sexual abuse. In August 2024, he received a 20 year sentence.
- Former law enforcement officer, Koby Don Williams attempted to meet, what he thought, was a 13-year-old girl for sex at a hotel in Richland, Washington. Williams was found guilty at trial, and in September 2024, was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal Prison.
- Tony J. Bolen and Casey Allen Greer worked together to produce child sexual abuse material of a young child that Greer had been sexually abusing since as early as May 2021. In December 2024 both were found guilty at trial. The sentencing for Bolen and Greer is set for April 23, 2025, in Spokane, Washington.
- Nathan Roy Stout downloaded hundreds of files of child sexual abuse material. At the time of his offense, Stout was serving a sentence for committing a similar crime in 2018. For his latest offense, Stout was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.
- Craig Michael Berry repeatedly enticed young teens to send him nude images and videos of sexual conduct in exchange for alcohol, vape pens, cartridges for the pens, and marijuana. In December of 2024, Berry was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
“These examples demonstrate the Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting difficult cases,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “We will continue to work every day, alongside our partners in the ICAC Task Force, to prevent horrific victimization of children, protect victims, and remove dangerous offenders from our community.”
These cases reference herein were 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. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.