COEUR D’ALENE, ID — A Hayden man has been sentenced to prison after investigators found hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse material in his possession, according to a Wednesday news release from the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Kenneth Ely, 68, was convicted of two counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children by Possession of Sexually Exploitative Material. The case began in March 2025 when officers received Cybertips indicating Ely was accessing child pornography. Detectives later obtained a search warrant and found the material on his laptop and a USB drive, including images of nude pre-pubescent children.

During the investigation, officers learned Ely first viewed child pornography roughly 25 years ago and began actively collecting material about five years ago. Each count of possession is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Ely appeared for sentencing on December 11 before District Judge John Cafferty. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Shannon Jackson recommended a 10-year sentence with parole eligibility after four years. Judge Cafferty imposed a 10-year sentence with parole eligibility after two years.

Prosecuting Attorney Stanley T. Mortensen credited Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Molly Nivison and Shannon Jackson, along with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, for their work on the case. He said the office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting crimes that exploit children and pursuing justice for victims and their families.