Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Decide Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Scott Matthew Yotka (48, Jacksonville) to 60 years in federal jail for producing and distributing pictures and a video depicting himself as he sexually abused two younger kids. Yotka was additionally ordered to serve a lifetime time period of supervised launch and register as a intercourse offender. Yotka was arrested on September 17, 2021, and has been detained since then. He had pleaded responsible on Might 13, 2022.
In accordance with court docket paperwork, on September 15, 2021, Yotka, utilizing the title “Scottnjax44,” engaged in on-line non-public conversations utilizing a specific social media software (app) with an undercover FBI activity pressure officer (UC) in Washington, D.C. Yotka mentioned his ongoing sexual exploitation of kids in graphic element and acknowledged that he had entry to 2 very younger kids whom he loved molesting. Yotka commented that these kids “squirm … and have that seem like let’s simply get this over with” each time he sexually abused them. Yotka despatched the undercover officer a number of pictures and a video depicting two younger kids being sexually abused by Yotka. When the UC requested how he stored the kids quiet concerning the molestation, Yotka replied that “they [are] younger and don’t discuss lol.” The FBI traced this on-line messaging to Yotka’s residence in Jacksonville and in addition decided that the identical “Scottnjax44” person account was accessed from the Metropolis of Jacksonville places of work positioned within the Ed Ball Constructing in downtown Jacksonville. Brokers then coordinated with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Workplace (JSO) and confirmed that Yotka was at the moment employed by JSO as a Police Emergency Communications Officer. Late within the night on September 16, 2021, a federal search warrant was obtained for Yotka’s residence.
Early within the morning on September 17, 2021, the FBI, assisted by the JSO, executed the search warrant and made contact with Yotka at his residence. Throughout an interview with regulation enforcement, Yotka confirmed that he was the administrator of a chat room on the social media app for people focused on “incest fetishes, little child issues, [and] animal issues.” Yotka admitted sending express photos of younger kids to a different app person. He additionally admitted taking pictures of those kids as he molested them and used a specific overseas object to sexually abuse them. Yotka acknowledged “I do know what I did” and “I’m not happy with what I did.” An FBI forensic examiner was capable of get well from Yotka’s cellphone the identical pictures and video depicting Yotka sexually abusing these two kids that Yotka had despatched to the UC on September 15, 2021.
“The exploitation of kids requires swift and aggressive regulation enforcement motion, which is strictly what occurred on this case,” mentioned Sherri E. Onks, Particular Agent in Cost of FBI Jacksonville. “Our kids are among the many most weak members of our group, and the FBI works diligently alongside our companions to find people who search to hurt them. All predators, particularly these in positions of group service, ought to know that we’ll cease at nothing to search out and cease you, and search justice for harmless victims.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville and Washington, D.C., and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Workplace. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Legal professional D. Rodney Brown. Assistant United States Legal professional Mai Tran dealt with the forfeiture of belongings.
That is one other case introduced as a part of Mission Protected Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Division of Justice to fight the rising epidemic of kid sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by america Attorneys’ Workplaces and the Legal Division’s Youngster Exploitation and Obscenity Part, Mission Protected Childhood marshals federal, state, and native sources to find, apprehend, and prosecute people who sexually exploit kids, and to determine and rescue baby victims. For extra details about Mission Protected Childhood, please go to www.justice.gov/psc.
