COEUR D'ALENE - U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced the results of three separate child exploitation cases in North Idaho today.

1. Registered Sex Offender in Lewiston Sentenced to 300 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child

Jesse Eugene Burnett, 42, of Lewiston, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for attempted sexual exploitation of a child.

According to court records, in April 2024, FBI agents were contacted by a mother who discovered her 10-year-old daughter had been exchanging sexually explicit images with an adult male on a messaging application. Although the child told the male that she was thirty, the male commented that she looked young. Using legal process, law enforcement identified Burnett, a registered sex offender living in Lewiston. Law enforcement posed as the child using the child's phone. When Burnett was told by "the child" she was actually only thirteen-years-old, Burnett replied, "so no more pics then." However, within days, he again requested explicit images. Burnett was arrested in June 2024 and admitted that he believed he was speaking with a child and continued to solicit sexually explicit images.

District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Burnett be placed on supervised release for 15 years following his prison sentence. Burnett will continue to be required to register as a sex offender.

U.S. Attorney Davis commended the joint efforts of the Lewiston Police Department, the Des Moines Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case.

1. Moscow Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM)

Nathanael Dewayne Jensen, 26, of Moscow, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession of CSAM.

Court records show that in August 2024, law enforcement received CyberTips from multiple online platforms reporting the presence of CSAM in certain accounts on their platforms. Using numerous search warrants and other investigative tools, law enforcement determined the accounts belonged to Jensen, who lived in Moscow. A search of Jensen's cell phone pursuant to a search warrant revealed CSAM videos and images on the phone, along with evidence showing that Jensen had exchanged CSAM files with another user.

District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Jensen be placed on supervised release for 15 years following his prison sentence. Jensen will be required to register as a sex offender because of this conviction.

U.S. Attorney Davis thanked the Moscow Police Department, the Latah Regional SWAT team, and the Idaho Attorney General's Office for their collaboration in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson and Special Assistant United States Attorney Madison Allen Gourley prosecuted this case.

1. Culdesac Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of CSAM

Riley Neal O'Brien, 36, of Culdesac, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession of CSAM.

According to court records, in June 2022, law enforcement received a CyberTip from a social media company reporting that a user of their platform was possessing child pornography. After a thorough investigation, law enforcement identified the user as O'Brien. Law enforcement determined that O'Brien possessed CSAM images and videos on his online account and distributed CSAM to others more than 70 times between March and April of 2022.

District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that O'Brien be placed on supervised release for 5 years following his prison sentence. O'Brien will also be required to register as a sex offender.

U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Nez Perce County Sherrif's Office, the Lewiston Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case.

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