MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 24-year-old Hastings woman pleaded guilty Friday to possessing child porn and endangering a 5-year-old child used in the making of child porn, the Dakota County Attorney’s Office said.
Judge Tim Wermager sentenced Amanda Lee Hughes, who pleaded guilty to the two felonies, to 180 days in jail and to five years of probation.
“I am pleased that Amanda Hughes has accepted responsibility for her involvement in this shocking crime,” said James Backstrom, the county attorney.
Hughes and her husband, 24-year-old Mark Matthew Cortes (pictured below), were charged last October with various counts relating to child pornography.
Hughes then faced three felonies and two gross misdemeanors. Her husband faced three felonies: one count of sexual conduct; one count of using a minor for sexual performance; and one of child porn possession.
Court documents say that between November of 2011 and October of 2012 Cortes abused a child, filmed it and later distributed the recordings. They also said that Hughes knew the abuse was taking place but failed to protect the child. These crimes allegedly took place in both Washington and Dakota counties.
After federal charges came down against Cortes, the state-level charge of using a minor for sexual performance was dropped. Cortes will be tried for his other two state-level charges after his federal child pornography charges are resolved. The federal case is slated for April.
A petition has been filed in district court to terminate the parental rights of both Hughes and Cortes.
