MONROE — A teenager accused of spreading child pornography was sentenced to probation in Green County Circuit Court on Monday.
After pleading no contest to a charge of possessing and distributing an intimate representation, Kyler E.S. Wilkinson also pleaded no contest/deferred prosecution to a count of child sexual exploitation before Circuit Judge Thomas J. Vale.
Reports said the suspect was arrested Oct. 14, 2021 after an investigation into a child pornography complaint. His phone and other devices were seized at that time and alleged evidence recovered.
According to a criminal complaint, the material included video and still photos, some including toddler-aged children. The suspect was caught sharing and downloading the images online and through SnapChat.
Wilkinson, 17 at the time, was arrested at a residence in the 1400 block of 14th street by authorities. Monroe detectives and officers, assisted by agents of the Wisconsin Department of Justice-Division of Criminal investigation, conducted the execution of the search warrant. Evidence was located and seized there.
The suspect’s internet site information led the state investigators to him and then they referred the matter to local authorities in Monroe, reports said.
During an interview with local investigators, Wilkinson reportedly described how he received and forwarded content he allegedly knew to include nude pictures of minors, sexual acts and other inappropriate content.
While he reportedly told police he knew what he was doing was wrong, the teen apparently wasn’t very good at covering his electronic tracks on the internet.
“We had a joint recommendation for three years of probation,” said District Attorney Craig Nolen.
But that recommendation comes with a number requirements and if the defendant violates them or fails to comply, risks being re-sentenced to prison.
“If the Defendant receives any sort of probation hold during the next three years or receives any non-ordinary traffic ticket, the State can ask the Court to immediately sentence him on a count that has a potential 7.5 years of initial confinement and 5 years of extended supervision,” said Nolen.
Nolen added that Wilkinson’s young age was a factor in the sentencing recommendation, as well as the fact that he didn’t store child porn on devices at his home. Wilkinson also must undergo sex offender treatment.
Wilkinson reportedly told police that he met the persons with whom he shared the material almost exclusively on SnapChat and did not know any of them personally
“I believe it was an appropriate disposition taking into consideration of all of the facts, as well as individual characteristics of the Defendant,” said Nolen.