A Reno man sentenced to life in prison for producing and possessing child sexual abuse material

RENO, Nev. (News 4 and Fox 11) — A Reno man was sentenced to life in prison on numerous charges, many of which involved secretly recording children.

Jason Dobbs, 40, pleaded guilty to eight counts of producing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Authorities say seven of the charges involved secretly recording young girls naked. The eighth charge was for possessing CSAM depicting children aged 8 or over.

Dobbs was arrested in 2021 after detectives with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigated concerns that Dobbs may have been secretly recording children in his home.

After an extensive forensic investigation, detectives learned that Dobbs had been secretly recording his victims for years, including using a hidden camera in the shower and exposing children while they slept. Authorities say the recovered photos were mainly of three children ranging in age from 8 to 14. Dobbs used his special education as an IT professional to conceal his activities and the images he had created and collected over the years.

At sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Amanda Sage asked for a maximum sentence for each count, totaling life in prison with the possibility of parole beginning after serving 42 years. In support of this request, DDA Sage argued that Dobbs poses an extreme danger to the community given his ability to manipulate those around him, his patience in selecting victims, and his training and skills in computer technology.

The investigation and prosecution was a joint effort between ICAC and the Washoe County District Attorney’s Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). The ICAC Task Force, part of the Northern Nevada Cyber ​​Center, is a collaborative effort between multiple local and federal agencies to combat child exploitation online and through digital devices.

Authorities say Sparks police officers took the lead on the case, with assistance from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office.

Founded in 2014, CAC provides a child-friendly environment for child victims involved in the criminal justice system and aims to minimize trauma, provide advocacy and support effective investigations and prosecutions.