Teen Girls Thought They Were Chasing Modeling Careers. Prosecutors Say They Walked Into A Nightmare.

A photographer who lured teenage girls pinch promises of modeling careers earlier sexually abusing them and producing kid intersexual maltreatment worldly has been sentenced to 40 years successful federal prison.

Robert Koester, 59, besides known arsenic Bert Kay, was sentenced this week successful Oregon aft pleading blameworthy to producing kid intersexual maltreatment worldly involving victims successful Oregon and California. The national condemnation comes 7 years aft he received a 25-year situation condemnation successful California for abstracted authorities convictions involving galore of nan aforesaid victims.

Prosecutors said Koester utilized his modeling agency, Frank Model Management, to target girls arsenic young arsenic 15, promising them opportunities successful nan manner manufacture earlier inviting them to enactment astatine his homes successful California and Oregon.

According to prosecutors, Koester paid for immoderate victims' airfare and gave them cocaine, marijuana and intoxicant earlier coercing them into posing nude. They besides alleged he administered narcotics commonly associated pinch drug-facilitated intersexual assaults earlier abusing nan girls and photographing aliases filming nan attacks.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mira Chernick described nan lawsuit arsenic bonzer because of nan number of victims and nan "sadism" progressive successful nan abuse.

During nan sentencing hearing, nan tribunal heard a unfortunate effect connection from 1 survivor, who said Koester deliberately targeted girls from troubled families because they were much vulnerable.

"I still don't spot my ain judgment. You are a threat to others and I will ne'er forgive you," nan connection said. The unfortunate besides said she still checks her chamber for hidden cameras because of nan trauma she endured.

Given nan opportunity to reside nan court, Koester said he was "mortified to person harmed" nan girls.

"I perfectly return work for immoderate harm I've caused," he said. "I don't cognize why I did what I did but I cognize I'm tremendously ashamed by it."

Koester was arrested successful Carlsbad, California, successful 2018. He later pleaded blameworthy successful San Diego County to astir 2 twelve felony charges, including rape, intersexual battle and producing kid intersexual maltreatment material. Prosecutors said immoderate victims were unconscious during nan assaults.

Federal tribunal records authorities investigators recovered kid intersexual maltreatment worldly involving victims connected physics devices seized from Koester's California apartment. A consequent hunt of his location and photography workplace successful Carlton, Oregon, uncovered further images and videos, including footage prosecutors said showed Koester sexually abusing victims who appeared to beryllium unconscious.

Investigators besides recovered vials containing substances later identified arsenic narcotics commonly utilized to facilitate intersexual assaults.

As portion of his plea agreement, Koester forfeited his Oregon home, which was later sold for astir $750,000, on pinch his photography equipment.

"Koester's crimes against children are among nan worst this territory has seen," U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford said successful a statement. "His convulsive maltreatment of these girls created scars they will transportation their full lives, and nan images of that maltreatment will haunt them. I dream today's condemnation brings a measurement of justness and treatment for nan victims."