A 54-year-old Florida man will serve 25 years in prison after confessing to hiding in a crawl space under a house to secretly record two young girls taking showers.
Joseph Troy Holbert was sentenced to 25 years in a federal penitentiary by U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II on Wednesday, according to an announcement from the authorities.
“Crimes against our children are among the most sinister types of offenses and deserving of the most significant sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Those who produce child pornography facilitate the abuse of children, robbing them of their innocence. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who engage in such heinous conduct.”
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In February 2023, Holbert was caught using hidden cameras to film two minor females in various stages of undressing, and using an outdoor shower to clean themselves, in order to capture images and videos of them without clothes.
The victims were 8 and 9 years old. Law enforcement was alerted to this behavior and seized hidden cameras and Holbert’s cellular telephone. A forensic review of the seized items revealed the child pornography Holbert produced for his own pleasure.
“This sentencing confirms the FBI’s commitment to seek justice for our kids,” said Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Jacksonville. “Together with our partners, we have ensured one less predator is victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community, and we will continue to dedicate every available resource to identifying and stopping those who exploit our children.”
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Holbert’s prison sentence will be followed by lifetime of federal supervised release, and he will be required to register as a sex offender.
This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg prosecuted the case.
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