Man Indicted for Producing Images of Child Sexual Abuse

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Bluemont man with producing and distributing child pornography.

According to the indictment, Kevin Hewlett, 35, allegedly filmed himself engaging in sex acts with a minor female whom he met when working as a farrier for her horses. Court documents further allege that Hewlett later sent that video to the minor over a social media application.

Hewlett is charged with production of child pornography and distributing or attempting to distribute child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office; and Michael L. Chapman, Loudoun County Sheriff made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel Smith, III, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendelynn Bills are prosecuting the case.

This matter was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which is charged with identifying and investigating child predators and those individuals and criminal enterprises engaged in Human Trafficking.

FBI encourages anyone who believes they have any additional information relating to this defendant to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or https://www.fbi.gov/tips.  

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-64.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.