Deaver man pleads guilty to three felonies

A Deaver man is facing a five- to 10-year prison term after pleading guilty to three felonies Tuesday morning in Big Horn County District Court.

Mathew Joseph Landers, 22, was originally charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of failing to register as a sex offender.

The investigation began after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children flagged an Instagram user for sending suspected child pornography. Instagram provided the IP addresses and five devices used to access the account, which led to the arrest of Landers on March 7, 2025.

The affidavit alleges that Landers sent four files varying in length from 41 to 54 seconds that showed pre-pubescent girls engaged in sex acts with adult men and dogs. All four were allegedly sent to the same account and on the same day, Feb. 25, 2025.

Through the investigation, authorities discovered that Lander was a noncompliant registered sex offender in Washington who did not inform the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office he was living in the county, which he’s done since January 2022.

Attorney Travis Smith, who represents Landers, outlined the terms of the plea deal during Tuesday’s hearing, which was presided over by Judge Bobbi Overfield.

In exchange for the dismissal of counts two and four, Landers pled guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of failure to register as a sex offender.

The prosecution, led by county attorney Marcia Bean, agreed to recommend a 5- to 10-year sentence in the state penitentiary on the two sexual exploitation charges and a two- to four-year sentence for failing to register as a sex offender. The sentences would run concurrently.

Landers would not be fined, but he would have to pay court costs and assessments. A decision on whether restitution is warranted will be made later. 

Landers also agreed to not request a sentence reduction or modification as part of the deal.

The next step in the case is the ordering of a pre-sentence investigation, with sentencing to follow.