Mt. Juliet man sentenced for child exploitation charges

Abbey Nutter, The Lebanon Democrat, Tenn.
·2 min read

May 25—A Mt. Juliet man was sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison for the production, transportation and distribution of child pornography on Tuesday.

Jonathon Aaron Ladd, 30, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Tennessee.

"This sentencing is a prime example of the joint efforts in which (Homeland Security Investigations) works with our law enforcement partners to rescue children who are being sexually exploited," Homeland Security Investigations Nashville Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud said in a press release. "Let this be a warning to anyone who engages in the abhorrent behavior of producing and distributing child sexual assault material. Our investigators work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to deliver justice to those who would harm our children."

The press release detailed that Ladd made a sexually explicit video of a six-year-old girl in his care in 2020 before sharing the video and another video of a different child in an online chat. Homeland Security Investigations the FBI Memphis Field Office, the Nashville Resident Agency; and the Metro Nashville Police Department investigated the case, which was part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Tennessee said that the nationwide project's goal is combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Ladd was indicted in 2021 for one count of production of child pornography, one count of transportation of child pornography, and one count of distribution of child pornography. Ladd pled guilty to all counts on Sept. 21, 2023.

"Protecting children will always be a top priority for the Justice Department," United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis said in the press release. "In this case, as a result of the excellent work done by law enforcement and members of our office, the defendant will spend the next 17 years in federal prison and far away from children."