Bradenton Couple Sentenced For Child Sexual Abuse Videos: Reports

BRADENTON, FL — In separate cases, a Bradenton couple was sentenced to life in prison for charges related to the sexual battery of a child and child pornography, according to multiple reports.

Nicholas Lavern Bassler Jr. was convicted after a Dec. 8-9 jury trial of sexual battery by a person 18 years of age or older upon a child less than 12 years of age, use of a child in a sexual performance, and possession of child pornography, a news release from State Attorney Ed Brodsky’s office said.

A Manatee County circuit court judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the maximum penalty he faced, plus 20 years, on Dec. 9.

“Through the diligent efforts of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, specifically [Detective] Carmine Luper and [Detective] Steven Luke, these heinous crimes against children were uncovered,” Assistant State Attorney Ashley Dusnik, the lead prosecutor on the case, said. “The detectives were able to collect overwhelming evidence of the defendant’s guilt so that this conviction could be secured.”

His girlfriend, Sierra Campany, pleaded guilty in November to related charges including capital sexual battery, llewd or lascivious molestation, and the use and possession of child sexual abuse material, the Bradenton Herald reported. Capital sexual battery carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole under Florida law.

The couple’s crimes were committed between April and September of 2023, the state attorney’s office said.

During the investigation, Manatee County deputies found numerous exploitation images and videos showing both Bassler and Campany performing sex acts on children on their devices, Patch previously reported. Detectives knew of three victims ranging in age from 10 months to 10 years old.
Both Bassler and Campany confessed to the crimes.

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