WEBER COUNTY, Utah — A West Haven man has been taken into custody after authorities say he used an online editing tool to digitally alter images of children, according to the Weber County Sheriff’s Office.
Sean Layton, 46, faces 10 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after investigators linked him to the creation of manipulated child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Investigation Unfolds
The case began when law enforcement received a cyber tip from the online platform Layton had reportedly been using. The tip flagged suspected CSAM activity, prompting detectives to dig deeper into the account.
Authorities say they uncovered multiple manipulated images allegedly created by Layton, who was later identified as the account holder. Investigators determined that he had been editing children’s faces onto explicit material, impacting both local victims and others across the country.
In some instances, officials say Layton pulled images of minors from public social media profiles, leading law enforcement to remind parents and caregivers to adjust privacy settings on accounts featuring images of children.
Arrest & Confession
Detectives from the Weber County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, executed a search warrant at Layton’s home on March 4, 2025. Before the warrant was served, authorities say they had already uncovered key evidence and secured a confession from the suspect.
Layton has since been booked into jail.
Legal Disclaimer
The charges against Layton are allegations at this stage. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law .
