Digital Trail Leads to 40-Year Prison Sentence

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX -- A Montgomery County jury has sentenced Keith Peterson, of Beaumont, to decades in prison after convicting him on five counts of Promotion of Child Pornography in the 359th District Court. Jurors returned the maximum punishment of 20 years on each count, reflecting the severity of the material Peterson distributed through a peer-to-peer file-sharing network.

Judge Kathleen Hamilton ordered two of the sentences to run consecutively, resulting in a 40-year sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

The case began when Detective Sean Bridges with the Montgomery County Constable’s Office, Precinct 3, identified a device actively distributing child sexual abuse material over the internet. Investigators established a direct digital connection to the device and received thousands of files depicting the exploitation of children. This evidence initiated a multi-agency investigation across county lines.

Detective Bridges traced the activity to Peterson’s residence in Beaumont. With assistance from the Beaumont Police Department, investigators executed a search warrant on the home. Inside, officers recovered a computer containing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography, including multiple files that had been transferred directly to Montgomery County investigators.

Assistant District Attorneys Chris Seufert and Frances Manzo prosecuted the case, presenting extensive digital forensic evidence that demonstrated Peterson’s role in distributing child sexual abuse material. The MCDAO Digital Forensics Unit, led by Jeff Chappell, played a critical role in analyzing the electronic evidence and ensuring the digital trail was preserved and documented.

This investigation was led by the Montgomery County Constable’s Office, Precinct 3, with support from Precincts 1, 2, 4, and 5, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Conroe Police Department. Their coordinated efforts ensured that the source of this digital distribution was identified, located, and brought to justice.

Chief Prosecutor Chris Seufert: “He thought hiding behind a computer kept him safe. He was wrong. Our detectives work every day to make the internet as dangerous for predators as they make it for children.”

District Attorney Michael Holley: “This 40-year sentence sends a clear message: Montgomery County will not tolerate those who profit from the abuse of children. We are committed to aggressively protecting our community and ensuring offenders face real, lasting consequences.”