Lawrence man pleads to sexual exploitation of a child

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that James D. Kaberline II, 42, of Lawrence, pleaded no contest to sexual exploitation of a child and internet trading in child pornography.

“Each explicit image involving a child is evidence of child sexual abuse,” District Attorney Valdez said. “This is difficult work and I thank our law enforcement partners for their diligence every day to keep our children safe.”

Charges stemmed from a cyber tip received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in March 2022 when the Lawrence Police Department was advised that Kaberline electronically sent and received child sexual abuse material.

Deputy District Attorney Joshua Seiden represented the State of Kansas. The matter was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the Heart of America Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory.

Judge Sally Pokorny set Kaberline’s sentencing for 8:30 a.m., on May 10, 2024, at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center.

Kaberline faces 31 to 136 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for each count. He also must register as a sex offender for 25 years.