In 2017, Austin Jones, a popular singer on YouTube, was arrested on child pornography charges. He was accused of convincing underage girls as young as 14 to send sexually explicit videos of themselves, under the false pretense that he would help them get famous. As he faced a maximum of 20 years in prison, Jones pled guilty in February. He admitted to coercing six girls to send pornographic images and videos of themselves, as well as going Facebook about 30 separate times to solicit more.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports the 26-year-old has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Neff Welsh said during the government's sentencing memorandum, "Production and receipt of child pornography are extraordinarily serious offenses that threaten the safety of our children and communities. Jones' actions took something from his victims and their families that they will never be able to get back."
Sam Charles, a reporter for the Sun-Times, sat in during the hearing, as the victims and their families watched and waited for the sentence to be delivered.
Jones, who was asked to not look at the victims or their families, apologized for his actions in a statement. "I placed a burden on you that you never asked for and never deserved," he said. "My actions undervalued you as a human being and I'm so regretful I made you feel that way. That is not your value as a person. You are worth so much more and I hope you know that."
He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday to determine when he will begin his sentence.
