Palmdale Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Child Exploitation Case A Palmdale man...

Palmdale Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Child Exploitation Case

A Palmdale man has pleaded guilty in a federal case involving the exploitation of minors, a case that has drawn broader attention beyond the Antelope Valley.

Darius Desean Edwards, 22, entered a guilty plea in Los Angeles federal court to three counts of receiving sexually explicit material involving minors.

Federal prosecutors say Edwards engaged in separate online communications with three underage girls—ages 15, 16, and 17—where he pressured and coerced them into creating and sending explicit content. In one instance in March 2024, Edwards allegedly obtained multiple explicit images and videos from a 15-year-old victim.

Edwards was previously employed by the City of Palmdale’s Department of Parks and Recreation before being terminated early last year.

He was initially charged in a 12-count federal indictment filed in February 2025, which included multiple counts related to production, receipt, and coercion involving minors.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 12, where Edwards faces 5 to 60 years in federal prison, along with potential lifetime supervised release, significant fines, and mandatory sex offender registration.

The case is being prosecuted in U.S. District Court and highlights ongoing federal efforts to investigate and prosecute crimes involving the exploitation of minors online.