A 40-year-old New Mexico man will spend the next several decades behind bars after pleading guilty to producing child sex abuse material and soliciting a Louisiana child under 13 over the internet. Kyle John Hatch, of Los Alamos, New Mexico, was sentenced in Livingston to 35 years at hard labor, with officials saying he will remain incarcerated until 2060.
Hatch pleaded guilty to production of child sex abuse materials and computer-aided solicitation of a juvenile under the age of 13, according to WAFB. Judge Erika Sledge handed down the 35-year sentence in Livingston, and because the charges involve sex offenses, Hatch must serve the full term completely in custody. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Investigation Traced Back to a December 2024 Tip
The case began in December 2024, when deputies with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office received a tip from the National Center for Missing/Exploited Children, as WBRZ reported. The sheriff's office led the investigation into the online abuse, which culminated in Hatch's arrest in New Mexico in February 2025. He was then extradited to Livingston Parish to face charges.
Scott Perrilloux, the 21st Judicial District Attorney, said Hatch will serve the full sentence, and his office noted the plea guarantees Hatch stays incarcerated until 2060. Assistant District Attorney Brett Sommer prosecuted the case locally. The same report notes the plea deal was reached with the consent of the victim's family and spared the juvenile victim and the child's family from a trial in open court.
Part of a Pattern of Cyber Tip Cases in the Parish
Hatch's case is not the only recent child exploitation prosecution to come out of Livingston Parish. Earlier last month, Denham Springs resident Cory R. Thames was sentenced to a total of 75 years in prison on charges tied to the sexual exploitation of children, per the same station's report on that case.
Separately, the Livingston Parish News detailed a multi-agency investigation in which the sheriff's office arrested four people following cyber tips connected to child exploitation offenses. That set of investigations began in June and July 2025 and focused on digital evidence relating to pornography involving juveniles. It stands as one local example rather than proof of a wider trend, but it underscores how often tips from national tracking organizations have driven local arrests in the parish over the past two years.
Louisiana law requires certain adults convicted of or pleading guilty to offenses listed under the state's sex offender registration statute to register, according to the Louisiana Legislature. News reports indicate Hatch's registration requirement will last his lifetime.
