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BISMARCK — A federal judge in North Dakota sentenced a man and woman Wednesday, June 22, for sexually exploiting three boys.
U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland ordered Katie Heidinger of Velva to spend 30 years in prison followed by a life term of supervised release. Heidinger, 33, had pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Judge Hovland sentenced Derrick Walker, 46, of Minot, to 45 years in prison followed by a life term of supervised release.
In January, a jury found Walker guilty of six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and a count of receipt of images depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor.
During Walker's trial, Heidinger testified that she had an affair with Walker who told her he had a sexual interest in young boys, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
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At Walker’s request, Heidinger made sexual images and videos of three boys, ages 1, 2 and 5, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. She allegedly sent the images and videos to Walker.
Again, at Walker's request, Heidinger captured images and videos that showed her sexually abusing some of the same boys, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Law enforcement officials learned of the case after Heidinger’s then husband found some of the images and videos on Heidinger’s cellphone and immediately reported the discovery to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
