A 41-year-old Pittsburg man who admitted to possessing child pornography and a firearm is headed to federal prison for seven years, after a judge in Oakland handed down the sentence on April 22.
Jamie Nunez Hernandez apologized in court, telling the judge, "I am deeply ashamed," as the court also ordered 10 years of supervised release once he completes his prison term. Prosecutors said investigators recovered hundreds of files, including videos showing children as young as about one year old, after Pleasant Hill police searched his phone in August 2023, according to East Bay Times.
Court filings show the case was handled in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California's Oakland division, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily R. Dahlke listed as the lead prosecutor and Elisse LaRouche as defense counsel, according to Leagle. The docket reflects status filings dating back to mid-2025 as the matter moved toward a plea and sentencing.
Prosecutors' account and plea history
Prosecutors say Hernandez pleaded guilty in December 2025 to possession of child pornography and a gun and that he had already served a 270-day jail term for related conduct, per reporting by East Bay Times. In a sentencing memo, the government wrote that Hernandez told investigators he was sexually attracted to girls around 11 years old, traded child sexual-abuse material and had discussed selling it, which prosecutors argued supported a significant federal term.
Legal context
Federal statutes draw a sharp line between possession, distribution and production of child sexual-abuse material: simple possession can carry a possible prison term up to 10 years, while distribution, receipt, production or recidivist possession can trigger higher penalties and mandatory minimums under 18 U.S.C. § 2252. The Congressional Research Service has summarized how those statutory ranges and recidivist enhancements apply in cases involving prepubescent victims or prior convictions.
What comes next
Hernandez will begin serving his federal term and will then face a decade of supervised release, with conditions on his contact with others and on his use of electronic devices, according to court reporting by East Bay Times. The case highlights how prosecutors are using statutory sentencing rules and evidence about victims' ages to push for longer terms in repeat child-exploitation prosecutions.
