Idaho man receives 30-year sentence in child exploitation case

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — A Cassia County man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material, according to the Idaho Attorney General's Office.

Theodore Prevost, 49, was convicted of one count of sexual exploitation of a child for distributing sexually exploitative material.

District Judge Blaine Cannon sentenced Prevost on June 8 to a unified 30-year prison sentence, with nine years fixed and 21 years indeterminate. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

According to the Attorney General's Office, the investigation began after the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip originated from a messaging application and reported that a user later identified as Prevost was seeking out and distributing child sexual abuse material.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for the account and discovered more than 90 files containing child sexual abuse material.

During an interview with law enforcement, Prevost admitted the account belonged to him and acknowledged that he had viewed, downloaded and distributed child sexual abuse material, according to court records.

Attorney General Raúl Labrador said the conviction reflects the state's ongoing efforts to investigate and prosecute crimes involving the exploitation of children.

The investigation was led by the Idaho Attorney General's Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit with assistance from the Cassia County Sheriff's Office, Rupert Police Department, Idaho Falls Police Department and Meridian Police Department.