Child Porn Suspect Expected to Plead Not Guilty

A North Hills woman named last month as one of two suspects sought in connection with a child pornography case tied to the San Fernando Valley is expected to plead not guilty to federal charges Wednesday.

Letha Montemayor Tucker, who uses the nickname "Butterfly," was named in a four-count indictment accusing her of conspiracy to produce child pornography, production of child pornography, conspiracy to engage in child sex trafficking and sex trafficking of children. The charges carry a potential federal prison sentence of 10 years to life.

Tucker, 52, who is currently being held without bond, is scheduled to enter a plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian in federal court downtown.

The indictment comes one month after tips provided by the public resulted in the identification of Tucker as one of two people allegedly involved in the production of a widely circulated series of child porn images taken about 11 years ago.

The photos—known in law enforcement circles as the "Jen series"—show an adult man, "John Doe," and a woman, now believed to be Tucker, sexually molesting a girl whom investigators have confirmed was between 11 and 13 at the time the images were taken, federal prosecutors said. The photos are believed to have been taken around the year 2001 in Encino and elsewhere in the region.

Tucker was arrested outside an apartment complex in North Hills on Jan. 3 by federal and local authorities, less than 10 hours after federal prosecutors released photographs of a man and woman identified as "Jane Doe" and "John Doe."