A Kotzebue man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a minor to produce child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska. Jesse Hadley, 33, will also serve an additional 25 years of court-mandated supervision after his release. The sentence represents the statutory maximum penalty for this crime.
Court documents state that on July 30, 2023, the mother of the minor victim reported to local police that Hadley had sexually exploited her child. She discovered a video on a family electronic device showing Hadley placing a hidden camera in the minor’s bedroom in Bethel. Shortly after installing the camera, it recorded footage of the victim entering and undressing in the room. Hadley later retrieved the device.
Hadley pleaded guilty on June 17, 2025, to one count of sexually exploiting a child to possess child pornography.
During sentencing, the Court noted Hadley’s abuse of trust as someone with access to the child and highlighted his history of violence against women and girls.
“Mr. Hadley, a man with a history of assault and domestic violence, continued his deplorable pattern of behavior by secretly filming and exploiting the minor victim. His actions resulted in the statutory maximum penalty for his offense,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “My office continues to prioritize protecting Alaska’s children, wherever they live. We will continue to work closely with all our law enforcement partners across the state to track down child predators and hold them accountable for their reprehensible actions.”
“Not only was Hadley’s behavior disturbing and predatory, but also an egregious abuse of trust,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Protecting children is one of our most critical responsibilities. The FBI will continue to identify and hold accountable those who exploit our most vulnerable.”
Chief Jeffrey Kirkham from Bethel Police Department commented on local efforts: “The Bethel Police Department is committed in efforts to investigate and combat child exploitation online, particularly in rural areas like Bethel, Alaska, where the spread of internet-related offenses can be more challenging due to geographic isolation,” he said. “Public cooperation and reporting reinforce the importance of cooperation between local, state, and federal agencies to address these crimes comprehensively, and obtain justice for the victims bringing those responsible accountable for their actions.”
The case was investigated by both FBI Anchorage Field Office and Bethel Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney prosecuted this case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006—to coordinate resources among federal, state, and local agencies aimed at identifying offenders who exploit children online as well as rescuing victims.
