BOISE, Idaho — Update: The story was changed to say another state as the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Idaho, corrected its news release.
A 26-year-old Bellevue man was sentenced to prison Wednesday after sexually exploiting minors.
Spencer Riding has been sentenced to serve 27 years for sexually exploiting a 15-year-old minor and another victim in 2019, and for having sex with a child from another state in 2022, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Idaho.
After serving his time, Riding will be on a lifetime supervised release.
Wednesday's news release said Riding contacted a 15-year-old through social media in 2019 and convinced them to send "topless photos." He then used the photos and threatened the child with releasing them to the public if they didn't send him "child pornography."
The parents of the child reported the incident to police. The U.S. Attorney's Office states law enforcement searched Riding's house under a warrant and took his devices. Police later discovered child pornography on his phone of another victim.
"Riding engaged in a similar criminal pattern of coercion, whereby he contacted a minor child over social media, secured compromising photos, and threatened to release sexually explicit images if the child did not send additional child pornography," the office stated.
In 2022, while pending his sentencing by a grand jury for exploiting children, Wyoming officials received a tip that Riding also contacted other children over social media. Officials said another search warrant was issued.
"Law enforcement discovered that Riding had contacted a minor child in another state and traveled there to record sexual acts with the child," the office stated.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said Riding also pleaded guilty to those additional charges.
