TYLER, Texas — A former law enforcement officer has pleaded guilty to child exploitation charges in federal court, officials announced Tuesday.
Skyler Douglas Laza, 34, pleaded guilty July 27 to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.
According to court documents, Laza persuaded a minor under the age of 12 to engage in sexually explicit conduct to create a visual depiction using a cellphone on at least two occasions. Laza is a former licensed peace officer.
The terms of Laza's plea agreement contain an agreed sentencing range of between 40 to 60 years in federal prison, along with lifetime supervision and sex offender registration. The actual sentence will be determined by the court based on advisory sentencing guidelines and statutory factors following a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Dallas Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Palestine Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek is prosecuting the case, which is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative created to combat child sexual exploitation.