Overview
- Maricopa County prosecutors said Tuesday a grand jury indicted William Powderly, 44, on 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, and he is held on a $150,000 cash-only bond.
- Officials said this is the office’s first prosecution that involves AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
- The investigation began with a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Chandler Police traced an IP address to Powderly’s phone and home before arresting him on April 21.
- Prosecutors say seized files included two images where AI put a real child’s face onto explicit photos of another young female, along with several sexual videos of grade-school and teenage girls.
- The charges apply under HB 2678, in effect since September 26, 2025, which makes AI or digitally altered depictions punishable like images of real victims and can trigger dangerous-crime penalties such as lifetime probation for offenses involving children under 15.