Clinton Man Sentenced for Child Sex Abuse, Porn Case Involving Dominican Republic Girl

Juan Carlos Puente will serve nearly 30 years in prison for producing and possessing child sexual abuse material.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A 48-year-old man from Clinton, Maryland has been sentenced to over 27 years in prison for producing and possessing child sexual abuse material involving a minor victim who lived in the Dominican Republic. As part of his plea agreement, the man must register as a sex offender.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing issue of child exploitation and the production of child pornography, which can have devastating impacts on victims both domestically and internationally. It also demonstrates the efforts of law enforcement to identify and prosecute these crimes.

The details

According to court documents, between October 2021 and April 2022, Juan Carlos Puente enticed a minor victim living in the Dominican Republic to engage in unlawful sexual activity and produce child pornography. Puente was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis to over 27 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release.

  • Between approximately October 1, 2021 and April 22, 2022, Puente committed the crimes.

The players

Juan Carlos Puente

A 48-year-old man from Clinton, Maryland who was sentenced to over 27 years in prison for producing and possessing child sexual abuse material.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis

The judge who sentenced Puente to over 27 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release.

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The takeaway

This case underscores the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies, both domestically and internationally, to identify and prosecute those who exploit children and produce child pornography, in order to protect the most vulnerable members of society.