Utah Man Perry Jay Hunter Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation and Overseas Crimes in California

Midvale, Utah – Perry Jay Hunter, 63, who once posed as a king at princess-themed parties for young girls, has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for traveling overseas to exploit children and for producing child sexual abuse material.

The Central District of California U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed the sentence on Monday, along with an order for Hunter to pay $3,000 in restitution.

Hunter’s crimes spanned several years and involved extensive use of messaging apps to solicit illegal sexual conduct.

While he admitted to one count of sexual exploitation as part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped 16 other charges against him.

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“Princess Festival” Provided Access to Children

Hunter ran a registered LLC called Princess Festival, hosting events where he dressed as a king while little girls played princess.

A 2014 promotional poster still visible on his Facebook page shows Hunter bowing to a young girl in a pink gown who curtsies back at him.

While Hunter insists that nothing inappropriate happened at these events, investigators say the parties gave him direct access to children, which was later leveraged for his criminal activities.

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Exploitation Overseas

Hunter began contacting mothers in the Philippines via WhatsApp in 2020, seeking to engage in sexual conduct with their daughters.

According to court documents, he solicited and paid for the production of child pornography involving children as young as three to five years old.

In September 2023, he traveled to the Philippines to meet one of the mothers and allegedly discussed the sexual acts he intended to perform.

He returned to the U.S. the following month, landing at Los Angeles International Airport, where Customs and Border Protection agents searched his phone and discovered child sexual abuse material.

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Confessions and Arrest

Hunter waived his Miranda rights and admitted to investigators that he had a sexual interest in young children and paid mothers to produce explicit images.

He acknowledged sending tens of thousands of dollars to women for sexualized photos of themselves and their children.

His arrest came in December 2023 under multiple Utah state charges.

By October 2024, he was transferred to federal custody in Los Angeles.

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Prior Allegations

Investigators also uncovered allegations from 2014 involving a minor who lived with Hunter and her mother in 2013.

The child reported sexual abuse, including inappropriate touching and comments, highlighting a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.

Despite Hunter’s claims that he never let girls sit on his lap at princess events, authorities point out that his access to children through these gatherings facilitated his crimes.

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Legal Proceedings and Sentence

Hunter pleaded guilty to one federal count of sexual exploitation of a child, resulting in a 27-year prison term.

The sentence also includes $3,000 in restitution.

While many charges were dropped, the conviction reflects the gravity of his actions, spanning international travel, monetary transactions, and the exploitation of vulnerable minors.

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What’s Next?

Hunter will serve his sentence in a federal facility, with eligibility for certain programs based on prison regulations.

Authorities continue to monitor digital networks for related material and are reviewing communications to identify additional victims or accomplices.

Victims’ advocacy groups urge parents and caregivers to remain vigilant online and monitor their children’s interactions with adults in positions of trust.

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Summary

• Subject: Perry Jay Hunter, 63, Midvale, Utah

• Crimes: Sexual exploitation of children, production and purchase of child pornography

• Operations: Princess Festival parties; overseas contact with mothers in the Philippines

• Sentence: 27 years in federal prison, $3,000 restitution

• Prior allegations: 2014 sexual abuse report by a minor who lived with Hunter

• Timeline: Contacted mothers 2020; traveled to Philippines 2023; arrested December 2023; transferred to federal custody 2024

• Access to children: Both through events in Utah and overseas communications

Hunter’s case underscores the risks posed by predators who use legitimate business fronts or public events to gain access to children, and highlights the importance of international cooperation in prosecuting online sexual exploitation crimes.