A 41-year-old Waco man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a federal judge sentenced him to 960 months in prison for a series of crimes involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
U.S. District Judge Alan D. Albright handed down the 80-year sentence to Kevin Duane Pridemore following a federal investigation that revealed the defendant used his role as a trusted babysitter to film and abuse his young victims.
The case against Pridemore began after law enforcement tracked at least 50 posts he made on a child pornography website.
On March 24, 2025, FBI agents executed a search warrant at his home, seizing an SD card that contained a 15-minute video of Pridemore abusing a girl between the ages of five and seven.
Further forensic examination of his devices uncovered a staggering 23,728 images and 155 videos of child sexual abuse, including depictions of infants and toddlers. Investigators eventually identified four specific victims whom Pridemore had recorded while he was supposed to be watching them.
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Pridemore’s legal proceedings moved quickly following his April 2025 indictment. In November, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography and two counts of production.
Judge Albright structured the sentence to run consecutively: 360 months for each production charge and 240 months for the possession charge. In addition to the 80-year prison term, Pridemore was ordered to pay $207,000 in restitution to the victims.
“While nothing makes up for the harm caused by this defendant, the 80-year sentence handed down by Judge Albright highlights the egregious nature of the abuse in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. Simmons noted that while the justice system cannot undo the trauma inflicted on the families, the sentence ensures Pridemore will never be free to harm another child.
The FBI’s San Antonio Field Office, which led the investigation, emphasized the betrayal of trust inherent in Pridemore’s actions.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran stated that the defendant exploited his position in the community to target the very children he was paid to protect. Doran reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to pursuing child predators, noting that the FBI has “zero tolerance” for those who exploit children either online or in person.
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