RAFB service member pleads guilty to possessing underage sexual content

MACON, Ga. — A service member of Robins Air Force Base pleaded guilty in federal court following a sexual conduct investigation involving the defendant and a middle school age girl, according to a release from the Department of Justice.

The charges stem from an investigation in which the defendant was found with sexually explicit material involving minors and several relationships with underage females on social media.

Justin Wayne Pallett, 28, of Warner Robins, pled guilty to the charge of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material on Monday. He pleaded before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III. Assistant U.S. Attorney Will R. Keys is prosecuting the case.

The charges stem from an investigation by Project Safe Childhood and the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations.

According to court documents, the mother of a 13-year-old female had told authorities two years ago that her child had exchanged sexually explicit images and messages with Pallett, who was 26 at the time, prompting the investigation by Project Safe Childhood. The defendant and the underage female had communicated through Snapchat and Facebook Messenger, and he was exchanging sexually explicit material with various other underage females on Snapchat.

Later, on March 25, 2021, Air Force Office of Special Investigations agents held a search warrant at Pallett’s residence and obtained electronic devices belonging to him. After forensic analysis, they found 178 images and six sexually explicit videos.

Fourteen images matched with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s database. Some images were of minors under 12 years old.

Sentencing is set for March 7, 2023. Pallett faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. He will also be required to register as a sex offender once released from prison.

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