DES MOINES — A California man accused of posing as an actor from the “Twilight” movies to entice local girls has pleaded guilty to federal possession of child pornography charges.
David A. LaVera, 33, appeared in the U.S. District Courthouse in Des Moines for a hearing Thursday afternoon, after initially canceling the plea hearing. As part of a plea agreement, LaVera is required to spend more than five years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. An additional charge of sexual exploitation of a child-production of child pornography was dropped. Along with the prison sentence, LaVera will be responsible for any costs the victims have for therapy they may seek.
In his plea deal, LaVera said he knowingly possessed child pornography that he had produced in Newton using a hidden camera. His sentencing will take place June 5 in Des Moines.
Court documents released in August said LaVera used his smartphone to video a 12-year-old victim taking a shower and a 13-year-old victim using the bathroom at a Newton home. According to court documents, LaVera later uploaded that video onto his laptop computer for viewing.
LaVera was charged locally in June 2014 after allegedly using his celebrity status to entice a 14-year-old girl to a park in Baxter after having sexually explicit conversations with the teen on Facebook. While at the park, LaVera is accused of touching the teen inappropriately and then luring her into his vehicle. He allegedly drove her around Baxter until concerned family and friends, who had reported a kidnapping, were able to stop the vehicle and get the girl out of the car.
When stopped by police, LaVera was found with a sword longer than 8 inches hidden in the driver’s side door jam, which was within the defendant’s reach. LaVera also had four double-edged daggers in the vehicle’s center console within his reach.
LaVera is scheduled to face four state charges including third-degree sexual abuse, enticement of a minor, attempting to entice a minor and carrying weapons. A trial date has been scheduled for April 15 in the Jasper County Courthouse. LaVera also requested during the plea hearing to serve concurrent time in prison with any potential state charges.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com