Soldier imprisoned for sending lewd photos to girl, 12

HOUSTON

Robert Douglas Dewitt, 20, pleaded guilty in September to one of four charges of providing obscene material by means of a cellular telephone and the Internet to a minor, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Detectives say Dewitt and a 12-year-old Fort Bend County girl he'd met via a social networking site exchanged several sexually explicit photos and videos of each other between January and February.

The girl had claimed to be 18 years old on her personal profile but later admitted to Dewitt that she is only 12; however, Dewitt claimed their relationship still was OK and the two continued communicating by both phone and the Internet.

An investigation determined Dewitt sent a total of 10 videos and at least four photos of himself to the girl. A forensic examination of the victim's family computer indicated he requested and encouraged the victim to send sexually explicit pictures to him.

Once Dewitt is released from prison, he must register as a sex offender and remain on probation for three years. He's also prohibited from contact with the girl.

Dewitt has been in federal custody since his arrest in July and will remain in custody to serve out his sentence.