PROVO — A 26-year-old Provo man convicted of attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor was sentenced July 29 to a term that includes jail time already served and four years on probation, Fourth District Court records show.
Sentence, credit for time served and supervision
Jacob Bunker pleaded guilty to the second-degree felony charge and was sentenced by Fourth District Judge Roger Griffin. The judge imposed a prison term of one to 15 years but suspended that sentence, instead ordering Bunker to serve 300 days in county jail with credit for 250 days already served. He also was placed on supervised probation for four years.
| Outcome | Detail |
|---|---|
| Prison sentence (imposed) | 1–15 years (suspended) |
| County jail ordered | 300 days with credit for 250 days served |
| Probation | 4 years supervised |
Allegations and admissions detailed in charging documents
According to court charging documents, Bunker was identified in November after an FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force arrested another individual and located social media chats linking that person and Bunker. The documents allege the chats contained statements in which Bunker expressed a desire to sexually abuse a preschool classroom and to have a role in his church overseeing young children.
Charging papers also allege Bunker sent what investigators described as a self-produced video of child sexual abuse material and created a social media group where participants discussed sexual interest in children.
After his arrest, the documents say Bunker admitted using social media to communicate with others and to make arrangements to sexually abuse children, but claimed he would delete the accounts. He told investigators he had never abused a child.
"I have not abused a child," the charging affidavit records him saying.
Conditions of probation and court requirements
As part of the sentence, the judge imposed multiple conditions intended to limit Bunker's access to potential victims and monitor his behavior during probation. Conditions include:
- No contact with children.
- Obtain and maintain full-time employment.
- Undergo a psychosexual evaluation and comply with all recommendations.
- Avoid online dating sites and keep no active dating profiles.
- Provide all usernames and passwords to Adult Probation and Parole on request.
- No use of alcohol or recreational marijuana.
Officials also ordered Bunker to comply with standard terms of supervised probation and any additional conditions the probation office requires.
Family statements in court
Multiple family members and friends submitted letters to the court in support of Bunker before sentencing. Those letters — from parents, siblings and his fiancée — urged the judge to consider his character and pledged to help him comply with court-ordered requirements.
In court, Bunker's father asked the judge to weigh personal knowledge of his son alongside the criminal file, saying he knew his son "in ways that a court file cannot show," and asked the court to consider that context while acknowledging the seriousness of the charges.
Local impact and next steps
The case was investigated by the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and prosecuted in Fourth District Court. Under the sentence, Bunker will remain under close supervision in the community for the four-year probation period. Violations of probation or future criminal behavior could lead to revocation of the suspended prison sentence and imposition of the previously ordered one- to 15-year term.
Community members concerned about the case or about safety issues involving minors can contact local law enforcement or Adult Probation and Parole for information about reporting concerns or protective steps.
