In a stomach-churning case, a Brentwood couple has been handed lengthy prison sentences for their involvement in producing and conspiring to produce child pornography involving two minors. Matthew Lee Pelton, 50, and Heather Electa Halwig Gharibian, 53, were sentenced to 30 and 22 years in prison, respectively, as reported by the United States Department of Justice today via a press release.
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Both Pelton and Gharibian pleaded guilty to the heinous charges earlier this year. On February 14, 2023, Pelton entered his guilty plea, with Gharibian following suit on February 21, 2023, according to KRON4. The couple admitted to conspiring and filming visual depictions of two minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct between March 29, 2021, and at least June 14, 2021, in their plea agreements.
The depth of the depravity in this case becomes evident as more details are revealed. Pelton and Gharibian heinously exploited a then 10-year-old child who was in Gharibian's care. Using WhatsApp messenger, Pelton instructed Gharibian on how to perform sexual acts on the innocent young victim, describing his arousal and requesting that Gharibian create a video of the molestation, as reported by the Department of Justice press release.
Gharibian carried out Pelton's repulsive request, performing the acts on the child and filming the ordeal before sending the video back to Pelton. Furthermore, it was discovered that ring cameras had been installed throughout the house, including in the minors' bedrooms and bathrooms, allowing the couple to view the children at any time.
The government argued in connection with the sentencing that Gharibian sexually exploited the young victims in her care for the twisted sexual gratification of her then-boyfriend, Pelton. The government described Pelton as a "pedophile with a seeming predilection for preteens and teenagers." During the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Jefferey S. White stated that the defendants had stolen the victims' childhood per the DOJ press release.
Initially, on November 17, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted both Pelton and Gharibian on charges of conspiracy to produce child pornography and production of child pornography. Additionally, Gharibian faced two counts of distribution of child pornography, while Pelton was charged with two counts of receipt of child pornography. Both defendants pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and production charges, and in accordance with their plea agreements, Judge White dismissed the remaining charges at sentencing.
Beyond the lengthy prison terms, Pelton and Gharibian were also ordered to serve 180 months of supervised release, which will commence following their time behind bars. Restitution for the victims is set to be determined at a later hearing.
The prosecution of this appalling case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Chambers and Kelly Volkar, with assistance provided by Jasmine Sanders and Laurie Worthen. The successful convictions and sentencing were the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Contra Costa District Attorney's Investigation Office, and the Brentwood Police Department.
