Press release from the Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office
Dakotah Robert Kitchen, 29, was convicted of Sexual Exploitation of Children by Possession and Distribution of Sexually Exploitative Material (Child Sexual Abuse Material, a.k.a. CSAM or Child Pornography) and Producing/Possessing Visual Representations of Child Sexual Abuse.
The charges stem from Cybertips law enforcement received indicating Kitchen had possessed several files of child pornography.
After obtaining a search warrant, officers searched Kitchen’s computer and phone and located evidence indicating Kitchen had possessed at least 50 files containing pictures and videos of child pornography as well as evidence indicating Kitchen had distributed the material over the internet.
Additionally, Kitchen admitted to producing and possessing approximately 100 files of computer-generated images depicting child sexual abuse – including an image depicting a female child around the ages of 3-7–years–old crying while being sexually abused by an adult male.
Possession of Child Pornography is a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Distribution of Child Pornography is a felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Producing/Possessing Visual Representations of Child Sexual Abuse is a felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
Kitchen was sentenced on July 21, 2025, by District Judge John Cafferty.
At sentencing, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Molly Nivison recommended a unified 12-year prison sentence with parole eligibility after 7 years for the crimes. Specifically, the State recommended the following sentences:
10 years with parole eligibility after 4 years for Possession of Child Pornography12 years with parole eligibility after 7 years for Distribution of Child Pornography4 years with no possibility of parole for Visual Representations of Child Sexual Abuse
District Judge John Cafferty sentenced Kitchen to prison for a unified 15-year prison sentence with parole eligibility after 5 years for the crimes. Specifically, the Court issued the following sentences:
8 years with parole eligibility after 5 years for Possession of Child Pornography15 years with parole eligibility after 5 years for Distribution of Child Pornography5 years with no possibility of parole for Visual Representations of Child Sexual Abuse
Prosecuting Attorney Stanley T. Mortensen thanks Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Molly Nivison for prosecuting the case and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for investigating this case. This office will continue to vehemently prosecute the exploitation of children in an effort to help protect and reach justice for the children and their families.
