Robert Bonesteel, 63, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to more than 21 years on federal prison on charges of producing and disseminating child sex abuse material.
In November 2023, law enforcement obtained evidence against Bonesteel as part of an undercover chat operation targeted at identifying child sex offenders. During the sting, investigators posed as a 14-year-old boy on social media where Bonesteel discussed "ravaging" the minor and having oral sex with him.
As part of the conversation, Bonesteel agreed to meet the teen at his Lexington residence where he was arrested.
Following his arrest, law enforcement searched Bonesteel’s phone and discovered that he had produced and disseminated child sexual abuse material. Further social media messages revealed that Bonesteel coached other individuals on how to groom children and sexually abuse them.
Bonesteel is sentenced to 260 months in federal prison, followed by a term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The court also ordered that restitution be paid to the minor victim.