Steven D. Young makes an appearance Friday afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court.
A Centralia man who pleaded guilty to sending a sexually explicit video of a minor over an internet messaging system was sentenced to 31 months in prison on Wednesday.
Steven D. Young, 19, pleaded guilty to a single count of first-degree dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct on March 30, 2018, however his sentencing hearing was continued numerous times.
During one such continuance in January, court records indicate prosecutors argued for the hearing to be pushed back after learning that Young has additional criminal history.
While Young didn’t have previous Lewis County history, the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office found a conviction of attempted child molestation from 2011 in Arizona.
Court records also indicate Young would be evaluated for sex offender treatment.
According to court documents, the FBI notified the Centralia Police Department of Young’s conduct in 2017. Using the messaging app Kik, Young was involved in sexually explicit conversations. During one of those conversations, Young said he had sexual intercourse with girls as young as 3 years old.
On July 26, 2017, Young sent a video depicting an underage female, who appeared to be around 12 years old, masturbating.
During an interview with police, Young initially said he sent the video because he had been threatened. However, he later “admitted the threat was a ‘crutch’ and he believed he should go to jail, but wanted treatment,” according to documents.
