COLUMBUS, Ohio – A California man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Columbus today to sexually exploiting a minor and possessing child pornography.
Kameron E. Tolbert, 28, of Suisin City, California, admitted to traveling from California to Ohio to engage in sex acts with a 14-year-old female he met online.
According to court documents, on Aug. 22, 2022, law enforcement was dispatched to a home in Jackson, Ohio. Tolbert had jumped through the minor victim’s bedroom window when he was discovered in the bedroom with the victim. He fled on foot and then by vehicle.
The next day, the principal at the victim’s local high school identified Tolbert’s vehicle in the school parking lot and notified a school resource officer who detained Tolbert at the school.
Tolbert had first met the victim online six months prior and began chatting with her via different social media applications, including Discord. He admitted to flying from Sacramento, California, to Columbus, Ohio, on Aug. 20, 2022, to meet the victim at her home in Jackson. Tolbert parked nearby and snuck into the victim’s home through her bedroom window on August 21 and August 22 to engage in sexual intercourse with her.
A forensic examination of Tolbert’s digital devices revealed more than 500 images and 1,100 videos depicting child sexual abuse of both prepubescent and pubescent minors. Images and videos of the 14-year-old minor victim engaged in sex acts with Tolbert were also recovered.
As part of the plea, the parties involved have recommended a sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati division; and Jackson County Sheriff Tedd Frazier announced the guilty plea entered today before Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
Source: Department of Justice
