Des Moines Man Indicted on Federal Child Exploitation Charges

DES MOINES, Iowa - A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned a 13-count indictment Wednesday, December 10, 2025, charging a Des Moines man with offenses related to sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of children.

As alleged in the Indictment, Tyler Boyd Pavlick, 32, produced and attempted to produce sexually explicit visual depictions of minor victims at two cross-country meets for middle school and high school athletes in September 2025 held in Marshall and Clarke counties and one arts and crafts festival in October 2025 held in Polk County. The Indictment also alleges that Pavlick possessed a computer containing child sexual abuse material. If convicted, Pavlick could face up to thirty years in prison on each of the charges involving production or attempted production of the visual depictions.

Pavlick made his initial court appearance yesterday before a United States Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Trial is set for February 2, 2025. Pavlick remains in custody pending trial.

United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Kerndt is prosecuting the case. The FBI Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force, Marshall County Sheriff's Office, Des Moines Police Department, and Iowa DCI Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force are investigating this case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.