Robert Luke Divine, a 30-year-old resident of Crittenden, Kentucky, was sentenced on May 8 to 235 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for attempted enticement of a minor and distribution of child pornography.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to combat child sexual exploitation. According to the plea agreement, Divine was arrested after arriving at a hotel on January 15, 2025, intending to engage in sexual activity with a woman and her underage daughter as part of a sting operation conducted by the Boone County Sheriff’s Department. Upon his arrest, Divine admitted his intentions and possession of child pornography on his phone. A search of his electronic devices uncovered hundreds of videos and thousands of images depicting child sexual abuse material involving minors under the age of twelve.
Investigators found that Divine had traded this material via Telegram in December 2024. His iPad contained particularly disturbing content including bestiality and other explicit materials involving young children. Under federal law, he must serve at least eighty-five percent of his sentence before being eligible for release. After completing his prison term, Divine will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for twenty years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Colin Jackson, Acting Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations; and Les K. Hill from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office announced the sentencing decision. The investigation was led jointly by Homeland Security Investigations and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Leonhard.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing online child exploitation through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky enforces federal laws and maintains community safety through prosecutions like this one while collaborating with other agencies on initiatives such as drug abuse prevention and elder protection programs according to the official website.
