Deaver man charged recently with distributing child pornography

A 22-year-old man who has lived in Deaver for the past several years was arraigned on multiple felony charges last week in the Fifth Judicial District Court of Big Horn County.

Matthew Joseph Landers faces five felony counts in all — four alleging sexual exploitation of a child and one alleging he failed to register as a sex offender. 

Gary Seder, a special agent of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, wrote in the affidavit of probable cause that the arrest stemmed from a March 7, 2025, cyber-tip to the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children had flagged an Instagram user for sending four files of suspected child pornography. Instagram provided the IP addresses and five devices used to access the account, which led authorities to Landers. 

The affidavit alleges that Landers sent four files, varying in length from 41 to 54 seconds and showing pre-pubescent girls engaged in sex acts with adult men and dogs. All four files were allegedly sent Feb. 25, 2025, and all four went to the same account.

Through the investigation, authorities discovered that Landers was a noncompliant registered sex offender in Washington and that as of July 8, he had not informed the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office he was living in the county.

Landers was arrested July 17.

He told investigators that he’d been living in Deaver since 2021.  When confronted about the video files, Landers acknowledged if child porn was sent from the account, he’d have done it but said he couldn’t recall it.

Each of the four charges alleging sexual exploitation of a child carries a maximum sentence of not less than five nor more than 12 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $10,000.

Through his attorney, Landers pled not guilty to the charges Tuesday, Aug. 19.  Both attorneys agreed four days would be sufficient if the case goes to trial.