Andrews Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Pornography; Plea Agreement Includes Stipulated 25-Year Sentence

            ST. GEORGE - Brenton Andrews, age 27, of St. George, pled guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in St. George to one count of production of child pornography.  Andrews admitted that he persuaded a child under the age of 18 to engage in sexually explicit conduct which he recorded.

            The plea agreement includes an agreed upon sentence of 25 years in federal prison.  The prison sentence will be followed by a term of supervised release of not less than 20 years.  The sentencing agreement is subject to the approval of U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart, who will impose sentencing in the case on July 7, 2015, at 10 a.m. in St. George.

            Andrews was charged with one count of production of child pornography in a Felony Information filed in December following an investigation by the St. George Police Department and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations special agents.

            According to the plea agreement, Andrews made video recordings of the child while the child was nude and produced lewd images of the child.

            As a part of the plea agreement, Andrews agreed to forfeit a laptop computer, other computer equipment, and photographs, videos and other visual depictions.

            State charges involving alleged conduct with the child are pending.