Evansville Pedophile to Spend 15 Years in Federal Prison After Victim Discovers Hidden Bathroom Camera

EVANSVILLE- Jason Donald Brenton, 51, of Evansville, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to two counts of production and attempted production of sexually explicit material involving minors.

According to court documents, on November 3, 2023, a 19-year-old female victim reported to the Evansville Police Department that she had discovered a hidden camera in her bathroom. She removed the Micro SD card from the device and viewed the files, finding videos of herself fully nude. The recordings had been made over the course of several years while she was a minor. The victim identified Brenton as the perpetrator, confronted him, and he admitted to the conduct.

Detectives executed a search of Brenton's cell phone, laptop, and the Micro SD card. Investigators recovered more than 100 videos and 60 images of the victim in the nude, as well as sexually explicit images and videos of the victim's underage boyfriend.

The FBI and Evansville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman.

"This defendant violated the privacy and trust of vulnerable victims in the most egregious way, and today's sentence reflects the seriousness of his crimes. We are grateful to the investigators and prosecutors who worked swiftly to uncover the truth and ensure accountability, but I especially want to commend the victim for her remarkable courage in coming forward and confronting the offender," said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. "I urge our community to remain vigilant; if you see signs of abuse or exploitation, report it. Your awareness and willingness to speak up can protect children and help prevent future crimes."

"Hidden cameras, secret recordings, and other forms of covert exploitation are not victimless acts-they are calculated crimes that rob children of their privacy, dignity, and sense of security," said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy O'Malley. "The FBI remains committed to identifying those who prey on children, standing with victims, and ensuring offenders are held accountable for these devastating crimes."

U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Scott Kemper, who prosecuted this case.

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. Attorneys' Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.

If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood

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