Riverside woman gets 50-year sentence for child sex abuse images

RIVERSIDE — A Riverside woman was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison on June 11, convicted of producing and distributing explicit images of two children after taking a plea deal in February.

In a news release, the U.S. Department of Justice said Abigail Margarete Knight, 36, produced the material between July of 2020 and May of 2023, and that she “sent the child sexual assault material to two men, one in Texas and the other in Missouri,” through cellphone messages and over internet chat platforms.

The federal prison system does not offer parole. After her sentence finishes, authorities said Knight will have to serve five years of “supervised release.” Court documents said she’d also have to register as a sex offender, upon release from prison, and comply with a number of other restrictions, like avoiding contact with the victims.

The case was first investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office — prompted by a tip from police in Pearland, Texas — and prosecuted by the county attorney, but got bumped up to the federal level when Knight was indicted in District Court last June, according to county court documents.

Federal court records obtained by The Union said Knight provided the material through photos and 17 separate live video chats, to two men in other states. The content depicted two children, ages six and 11.

In an interview with police after the arrest, Knight said she “knew what she was doing was wrong,” according to court records.

The FBI, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force also played a role in the investigation after Knight was arrested in May of 2023, according to the DOJ news release.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com