United States District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Steven Eric Prestwood, age 39, to 15 years in federal prison on March 11 after Prestwood pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography. The sentence also includes a lifetime term of supervised release and $72,000 in restitution for the known victims depicted in the images. Prestwood is required to comply with sex offender registration requirements and other strict conditions upon his release.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement and the courts to address crimes involving the exploitation of children. According to court documents, multiple tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led investigators from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office to an online messaging account linked to Prestwood in April 2025. Investigators found that Prestwood had sought and received explicit images and videos depicting sexual abuse of minors, including prepubescent children and infants.
Law enforcement arrested Prestwood and seized his cellular phone, which contained hundreds of images and videos showing sexual exploitation of children. Many files involved violent conduct against young victims, and several were previously identified by NCMEC as linked to known child victims. At the time of these offenses, Prestwood was already a registered sex offender due to a prior conviction in Spokane County Superior Court in 2021 for possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
In sentencing Prestwood, Judge Rice said that a significant prison term was necessary “to reflect the seriousness of the offense, promote respect for the law, provide just punishment, protect the public, and deter future criminal conduct.” First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano said: “This sentence reflects the grave harm caused by the exploitation of children and the continued danger posed by repeat offenders. The Department of Justice remains committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who seek out and distribute child sexual abuse material.”
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office, said: “This case is extremely disturbing, made even more so by the fact that he did not learn his lesson from his last offense and continued his harmful behavior. Mr. Prestwood not only possessed thousands of meticulously organized images and videos of child sexual abuse, but much of it was especially violent, even depicting the torture of children. I’m grateful for the law enforcement officers and prosecutors who investigate these horrifying cases to hold dangerous child predators accountable.” Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels added: “Sexual predators forever alter the lives of the innocent children they victimize. Working together with NCMEC and our local, state, and federal partners, we will relentlessly work to identify and hold accountable those who exploit and harm the vulnerable children in our community.”
