A Texas photographer, Grant McKay Durtschi, has been sentenced to 6.5 years in federal prison for producing and distributing child pornography involving an underage model. The sentencing occurred during a hearing on August 27, 2023, in the U.S. Middle District of Louisiana, where U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ordered Durtschi to serve 78 months in custody and pay a $25,000 fine. Following his release, he will be under supervised court probation for five years.
Durtschi, 51, pleaded guilty in March 2023 to a felony charge related to dozens of explicit photographs of a 13-year-old girl from Prairieville, Louisiana. Evidence presented in court revealed that Durtschi often traveled across state lines to photograph teenage girls in sexually explicit situations, raising alarms among law enforcement.
Complicit in the scheme was Hannah Kinchen, who was indicted in 2023 on multiple charges related to child pornography. Kinchen, a resident of Gonzales, Louisiana, has pleaded guilty to one charge of receipt of child pornography and is awaiting sentencing.
The case began when the victim’s stepfather reported Durtschi to the FBI in August 2021. He informed federal authorities that Kinchen was collaborating with Durtschi to photograph the girl for pornographic content. The stepfather indicated that the victim had started her modeling career in March 2020, facilitated by another model’s mother who introduced her to Durtschi. This led to trips across states including Texas and Florida for photo shoots.
During an investigation, the victim’s stepfather communicated with Durtschi through an online messaging app. He relayed the photographer’s claims about male “sponsors” who provided financial support to the girls in exchange for photos and opportunities to attend the shoots. Despite Durtschi’s claims of not taking nude photographs, he allegedly admitted that his primary customers were individuals with predatory interests.
The FBI obtained approximately 80 explicit images from the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, depicting the victim in compromising positions. During questioning, the girl recounted a disturbing experience during a shoot at an Airbnb near Dallas, where Durtschi attempted to touch her inappropriately and encouraged her to pose nude, describing it as “artistic.” The girl ultimately stopped working with him due to this discomfort.
Evidence indicated that Durtschi uploaded the images to a Google Drive, sharing them with both Kinchen and the victim. Kinchen later discovered a secondary Google account revealing that Durtschi was selling videos and images to various individuals online. She identified at least 20 different buyers and stated that he even sold the victim’s underwear.
Federal authorities executed a search warrant at Kinchen’s residence in March 2022, uncovering nearly 30 images of the victim in sexually suggestive attire. Investigators established that Durtschi uploaded these images for distribution, while Kinchen managed the sales to customers.
This case highlights the grave issues of child exploitation and the legal ramifications faced by those who engage in these crimes. The sentences imposed reflect the seriousness of the offenses and the commitment of law enforcement to protect vulnerable individuals from such predatory behavior.
