Sentenced to 1590 years - 10/22/14
for producing child porn.
They were lucky---shoulda got life.
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama-- A Florence couple who pleaded guilty to producing child pornography in June were sentenced by a U.S. District Judge today.
Pratricia Allana Ayers, 34, was sentenced to 1,590 years in prison and her husband, Matthew David Ayers, 42, was sentenced to 750 years in prison.
According to a news release, Judge L. Scott Coogler told the defendants, "I have been on the bench since 1998, and this is the worst case I have personally dealt with, including murders. You robbed this child of her childhood and her soul, and a maximum sentence is the only sentence appropriate."
The couple pleaded guilty to charges related to 53 pornographic images of a child who was in their custody. These images were produced between the summer of 2010 and January 2013 when the child was between the ages of six and nine.
"The stern sentences imposed on this couple today reflect the abhorrent nature of their abuse and exploitation of a young child in their care," said U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance in the release.
"Children must be protected from sexual exploitation, and we remain committed to prosecuting child pornography cases. I thank the FBI for its diligent work on this disturbing case."
According to the release, in the Ayers plea agreements they both "acknowledged that they took photographs of the child engaged in lewd and lascivious poses and that they each engaged in sexual acts with the child that the other adult photographed."
According to the plea agreement, Patricia Ayers sent the photos to a man in Texas and told him in an email that she would bring the child to him so that he could have sex with her.
"The crimes the Ayers have admitted to are disturbing, inexcusable and sickening," Richard D. Schwein, FBI special agent said in the release.
"The Internet has a depraved and dark side which the Ayers lived in, bringing a child for whom they were responsible with them. I am proud of the work of the FBI on this case, and I applaud the sentences handed down today, as the Ayers will spend the rest of their natural lives behind prison bars."
After the hearing, the couple was returned back to the custody of Lauderdale County where they face additional state child pornography, rape, and sexual abuse charges, the release stated.
They were lucky---shoulda got life.
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama-- A Florence couple who pleaded guilty to producing child pornography in June were sentenced by a U.S. District Judge today.
Pratricia Allana Ayers, 34, was sentenced to 1,590 years in prison and her husband, Matthew David Ayers, 42, was sentenced to 750 years in prison.
According to a news release, Judge L. Scott Coogler told the defendants, "I have been on the bench since 1998, and this is the worst case I have personally dealt with, including murders. You robbed this child of her childhood and her soul, and a maximum sentence is the only sentence appropriate."
The couple pleaded guilty to charges related to 53 pornographic images of a child who was in their custody. These images were produced between the summer of 2010 and January 2013 when the child was between the ages of six and nine.
"The stern sentences imposed on this couple today reflect the abhorrent nature of their abuse and exploitation of a young child in their care," said U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance in the release.
"Children must be protected from sexual exploitation, and we remain committed to prosecuting child pornography cases. I thank the FBI for its diligent work on this disturbing case."
According to the release, in the Ayers plea agreements they both "acknowledged that they took photographs of the child engaged in lewd and lascivious poses and that they each engaged in sexual acts with the child that the other adult photographed."
According to the plea agreement, Patricia Ayers sent the photos to a man in Texas and told him in an email that she would bring the child to him so that he could have sex with her.
"The crimes the Ayers have admitted to are disturbing, inexcusable and sickening," Richard D. Schwein, FBI special agent said in the release.
"The Internet has a depraved and dark side which the Ayers lived in, bringing a child for whom they were responsible with them. I am proud of the work of the FBI on this case, and I applaud the sentences handed down today, as the Ayers will spend the rest of their natural lives behind prison bars."
After the hearing, the couple was returned back to the custody of Lauderdale County where they face additional state child pornography, rape, and sexual abuse charges, the release stated.