Child Exploitation Earns Ingram Hefty Consecutive Sentences

Twenty-three people filled the gallery for Christopher Colby Ingram's sentencing hearing on Monday, December 9, in the Tenth Judicial District Court before Judge Thomas Stockard in Fallon. In July, Ingram pleaded guilty under an Alford plea to two Category D felonies of possession of visual pornography of a person under the age of 16. An Alford plea allows Ingram to accept the associated consequences of the plea without admitting to the crime itself, based on the 1970 U.S. Supreme Court case, North Carolina v. Alford.

These charges were not Ingram's first. On January 4, 2022, he received probation on a 38-96 month suspended sentence for Category B felony embezzlement and a 22-56 month suspended sentence for Category C felony of Theft by Controlling the Property of Another. Consequently, the pornography charges constituted a probation violation, to which Ingram admitted earlier this year.

In cases involving child pornography and exploitation, defendants must submit to psychosexual evaluations to determine probation eligibility. Judge Stockard noted for the court record that he had received the required assessments from Dr. Hixon-Brenenstall and Dr. Fletcher.

Deputy District Attorney Priscilla Baker informed the court that to prevent embarrassment and further trauma stemming from their account of the events, the victims requested the case be resolved and consented to the agreed-upon resolution.

According to Baker, Ingram purchased a spy camera disguised as a USB charger and placed it around the house, including the only bathroom. 

"These actions were committed by a person who was trusted, a trusted member of the family who betrayed that trust for his own selfish motives, his own sexual desires," Baker said. "These crimes were committed in their home, in their bathroom, where they're most vulnerable, where a person should feel safe and be the most comfortable." Baker urged the court to hold Ingram accountable, requesting the maximum sentences to be served consecutively to each other and the embezzlement cases.

Richard Davies, Esq., defense counsel for Ingram, acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating, "There is absolutely no justification whatsoever for the way the children were treated. And he's going to pay for that dearly at the Nevada Department of Corrections, rightfully so. That will be his punishment."

Davies expressed hope that this moment would inspire change in Ingram. "Hopefully, this is a watershed moment in his life, and he'll decide which road he's going to go down. Without the drugs or alcohol, he's a great guy," Davies said. He pointed to Ingram's history as an intravenous amphetamine user and criticized society's reliance on medication. "Certainly, the Adderall use and abuse were a contributing factor to violating the trust of these poor children."

Ingram addressed the court, reading from a prepared statement. "I just want to express how truly sorry I am to the victims. I never meant to hurt the ones I love," he said, acknowledging his decade-long struggle with addiction. Ingram added that he now realizes he needs help and prays that God will begin to heal those affected. 

Three victims delivered emotional impact statements, describing the betrayal they felt by someone they trusted as a father figure. One victim shared, "Not a day goes by that I don't think about what he has done." Another added, "I thought Colby was somebody we could trust, and he broke that trust in one of the worst ways." The victims' mother said, "I keep thinking of the horrible thing that happened to my children." Each described the humiliation and ridicule from classmates and the constant feeling of being watched. The victims expressed concerns about trusting others in the future and pleaded with the judge to impose the maximum punishment.

Judge Stockard sentenced Ingram to two consecutive terms of 26-68 months, to run consecutively to Ingram's previous cases for a total sentence of 112- 288 months (24 years) in prison. Judge Stockard granted Ingram credit for the 548 days he served in the Churchill County Jail. Upon release, he will be subject to lifetime supervision by the Division of Parole and Probation and must register as a sex offender. 

Ingram was remanded back to the custody of the Churchill County Sheriff for the imposition of his sentence.