A Canyon County man is expected to plead guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of distribution of child pornography, a felony that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years behind bars.
Justin Schobey, 19, was charged in Los Angeles federal court last year with production, distribution and possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Schobey allegedly used text messages to coerce a boy in another state to produce child pornography, officials said.
Court papers allege that in December 2017, Schobey used the internet chat app Kik to share, with a minor, videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. About six weeks later, he allegedly contacted the boy in another state, prosecutors said.
The charge of distribution of child pornography carries a possible sentence of five years to life in federal prison, plus life under supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer is expected to set a sentencing date after Schobey enters his guilty plea.