Palmer, AK– An Alaska man faces a lengthy prison sentence after unintentionally capturing footage of himself trying to produce child pornography in a supermarket restroom.
Jesse Damon, 35, received a 25-year prison sentence along with a lifetime of supervised release on Tuesday.
In May 2022, Damon allegedly concealed a cell phone and battery pack in a grocery store vent in Palmer, Alaska, approximately 43 miles from Anchorage, with the intent to record images of children in the bathroom. Federal investigators reported that he planned to use the images to create child pornography.
A worker discovered the phone after observing a loose vent cover. Upon opening a video app on the device, they found a recording of Damon, who had filmed himself while concealing the phone. Employees reviewed the store’s security footage and discovered a clip of Damon attempting to retrieve the phone after he had hidden it in the vent.
Authorities were notified by staff, and upon confrontation, he confessed to hiding the phone and battery pack. Authorities discovered photos of adults and two underage individuals in the restroom on the device Damon had hidden in the vent. Additionally, authorities discovered 29 videos and 44 still images depicting child pornography on the device.
Evidence indicated that Damon utilized the phone to both receive and share child pornography through Kik, Dropbox, and Mega links. He was previously convicted of child pornography and was mandated to register as a sex offender when he was arrested.
In January, Damon reached a plea deal with authorities regarding a charge of attempted production of child pornography, as stated in federal court documents. The terms included a prison sentence ranging from 25 to 50 years, a fine of $250,000, and a requirement of at least five years to a lifetime of supervised release.
“Mr Damon is a repeat offender who presented an escalating danger to our community,” US Attorney S Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska said in a news release.
“I commend the vigilant supermarket employees whose swift actions played a crucial role in the successful investigation and prosecution led by the FBI and Palmer Police Department.”