Son of Rep. Lauren Boebert makes court appearance on child sexploitation charges

Tyler Boebert faces three counts of sexual exploitation of a child and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor over pictures he posted to an Instagram account two years ago.GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (CN) — The 21-year-old son of U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert appeared at the Garfield County Combined Courts in Glenwood Springs, Colorado for a reading of child sexual exploitation charges he faces related to photos and video of a minor posted online in 2024.The Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office has charged Tyler Boebert with three counts of sexual exploitation of a child and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor over sexually explicit pictures posted to Instagram and circulated online in 2024.If found guilty, Boebert faces up to 12 years in prison on each charge.Ninth Judicial District Judge Elisa Myer the charges and entered a mandatory protection order prohibiting him from contacting two parties.“I’m concerned about if they came to my place of work, because I’m obligated to be there,” Boebert said of the parties.Myer suggested Boebert discuss the matter with his employer and attorney, but told him he is free to go to work.“You are not prohibited from going to work in this order,” Myer said. “If one of the protected parties comes in, it’s best to remove yourself.”Because Boebert appeared in court pro se, Deputy District Attorney Tony Hershey wrote down the information for his next court date and handed the defendant the piece of paper.After receiving an anonymous Safe2Tell report in March 2024 investigators to looked into claims of child pornography posted to an anonymous Instagram account. Investigators found several sexually explicit videos and images in which then-18-year-old Boebert was engaged in sexual relations with a 17-year-old minor.Investigators collected images of two minors depicted in underwear, displaying an arched back, and performing sexual acts which, according to investigators, Boebert participated in making and distributing.In early 2024, according to the prosecutors in the indictment, Boebert “unlawfully, feloniously, and knowingly caused, induced, enticed, or permitted a child to engage in, or be used for any explicit sexual conduct for the making of any sexually exploitative material.”According to investigators, Boebert was 11 months older than one victim and nearly three years older than the other.The names of two victims, and a 19-year-old man who was also involved, are redacted from the report.The heavily redacted report describes Boebert’s split with the mother of his young son, and one young woman’s car being graffitied with “slut homewrecker.” Investigators received mixed answers when asking witnesses whether the sexually explicit material was circulated online as out of revenge or jelousy.One of the victim’s parents told investigators she had asked their school principal and dean to help get the sexually explicit material taken down.Boebert additionally faces misdemeanor charges in Weld County for child abuse where no death or injury occurred, and criminal negligence.In 2024, Boebert pleaded guilty to a single charge for attempting to commit identity theft related to a spree of vehicle break-ins committed around the small Colorado city of Rifle. The judge granted Boebert a deferred sentence. He is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on the identify theft case on Sept. 10.Tyler is the eldest son of Republican Lauren Boebert, who represents the 4th Congressional District from Windsor, Colorado. The congresswoman previously resided in Rifle, Colorado where she represented the 3rd Congressional District.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads