Las Vegas, Nevada - A Las Vegas man was sentenced to 188 months in prison for coercing two children, who were step-siblings, to create images of themselves appearing to commit sexual acts with each other and to send those images using various video and instant messaging applications.

According to court documents, David Howard Babit, 49, utilized the Internet applications LiveMe, ooVoo, Skype, and Snapchat to contact and manipulate two 12-year-old children to create and send child sexual abuse images. He used an alias when speaking with the victims, pretending to be a 16-year-old boy. Babit directed the victims to create videos and images conducting sexual acts with each other. The mother of one of the victims contacted law enforcement about Babit’s messages.

On December 1, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Babit’s residence. After Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigators advised Babit of his Miranda rights, he confessed to communicating with the children and possessing child pornography. A forensic examination of Babit’s computer revealed at least 788 images and 1,280 videos of child pornography, including forceful sexual assault of toddlers and children ranging from three to ten years old.

Babit pleaded guilty in November 2020 to two counts of coercion and enticement. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro sentenced Babit to 35 years of supervised release. Babit also must pay restitution to the victims.

Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Gardendale Police Department, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bianca Pucci prosecuted the case.