A federal jury in Maryland found 32-year-old Colorado native Alexander Bywater guilty of several crimes related to child molestation and the creation of child abuse material (so-called child pornography). As the prosecutor's office established, the man's accomplice in these actions was his wife.
According to the prosecutor's office, Bywater and his wife Anika made several pornographic videos with a prepubescent child in 2024 and tried to sell them on the Internet. The crimes were committed in Mexico, where they lived at that time.
The videos were discovered on the so-called dark web by an FBI agent from an office in Maryland and acquired as part of an undercover operation. A criminal case was opened against the Bywaters with the participation of the FBI office at the embassy in Mexico City, however, exactly how they were arrested was not specified in press releases from the US Department of Justice.
During his arrest, Bywater was found to have two videos he had published, as well as another recording with the same child, but without the participation of his wife. The man's devices also contained thousands of other child pornography materials, police noted.
Bywater was found guilty of five counts of conspiracy to commit child molestation outside the United States, two counts of sexual exploitation of minors, and two counts of promoting sexually violent material against children.
The man's sentencing date has not yet been determined, but authorities emphasized that he faces up to 150 years in prison on the combined charges. Anika Bywater, 29, was previously sentenced to 25 years in prison on charges of conspiracy to commit unlawful sexual activity abroad. She, unlike her husband, admitted guilt during the trial.
