Former Cherokee County deputy sentenced for child pornography, enticing a minor

(From the U. S. Attorney for Kansas)

Former Cherokee County, Kansas Deputy Garrett Gayoso was sentenced to 222 months in prison during a hearing today in U. S. District Court in Wichita.

Gayoso, who pleaded guilty to production of child pornography March 30.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office placed Gayoso, 25, on administrative leave in April 2025 after the Fall River, Massachusetts Police Department said it was investigating the deputy for what was described as "an inappropriate relationship" between Gayoso and a juvenile female."

Gayoso later resigned. Massachusetts authorities charged him in May 2025. A grand jury from the U. S. District Court in Kansas indicted him December 17.

The allegations against Gayoso were detailed in the U. S. Attorney's detention motion.

Defendant is a former law enforcement officer who abused his position of trust to groom a teenager online and get her to produce child pornography for his sexual pleasure. During the course of the months-long grooming, defendant was promoted to the role of Detective in February 2025, where he was supposed to be investigating the very types of crimes he was committing in secret.

Defendant is a danger and a flight risk and should be detained.

The case came to light when the victim’s mother searched Minor Victim 1’s laptop and cell phone and found sexually explicit messages and pictures between Minor Victim 1 – a 16-year-old high school student - and Defendant.

Minor Victim 1’s mother also discovered that Defendant had traveled to Massachusetts (where Minor Victim 1 resides) and had sex with Minor Victim 1. Minor Victim 1 confirmed that this all occurred.

Massachusetts law enforcement contacted the KBI to investigate further. Various search warrants were obtained, and Defendant was Mirandized and interviewed. During the interview, Defendant admitted that he met Minor Victim 1 online and moved the chats to snap but claimed they did not text much (but had over 24,000 text messages on his phone). 

Defendant admitted to having sex with Minor Victim 1. Defendant admitted that nude photographs were exchanged and that he sometimes requested the nude photographs. Defendant denied knowledge of Minor Victim 1’s age, but his denial is contradicted by the facts.

For example, Minor Victim 1 states that although they met on a website meant for 18-year-olds, that Defendant asked her almost immediately how old she was, and she responded truthfully that she was 16.

Additionally, a review of the text messages show that it is clear Defendant knew her age. Defendant talks about throwing a prom for the victim, discusses the 7-8 year age gap of Minor Victim 1’s parents and how it matches their age gap. 

Additionally, at one point Minor Victim 1 sends her Massachusetts id card that clearly shows her date of birth on it. Defendant comments on the id. Although proving that Defendant knew Minor Victim 1’s age is not an element of production of child pornography, it is relevant to show that he absolutely knew she was a minor in high school.

Defendant’s cell phone was seized and searched pursuant to a warrant. Defendant’s common social media handle was some variant of “Bootygoblin.” Agents found well over 24,000 text messages between August 17, 2024 and January 8, 2025.

Minor Victim 1 stated they were communicating through April 2025 (when her mother discovered the messages) and also reports that they communicated on other forums, such as Snapchat. Even with this incomplete picture, agents uncovered 119 images from Minor Victim 1 to Defendant, many of her entire nude body and many focused on her vagina.

There are also videos of Minor Victim 1 engaged in a sex act.

Defendant regularly discusses masturbating to these images. The chats are filled with sexually explicit comments, including when Defendant calls Minor Victim 1 “daddy’s little whore” and “daddy’s little slut” and “my cum slut” and “my whore” and “my obedient little whore.”

Defendant moved quickly in his grooming techniques with Minor Victim 1. Within his first 10 messages to the victim, he asks for a picture to see what she looks like. He starts talking about wanting to be in bed with her and rubbing her thigh within the first two hours of conversation.

After some of Defendant’s subtle suggestions, Minor Victim 1 states “I’m not sending you nudes we literally just met.” Nevertheless, Defendant continued to lavish Minor Victim 1 with praise and grooming and despite starting the conversation on the evening of August 17, already tells Minor Victim 1 he loves her around 1am on August 20.

The next day, on August 21, 2024, Defendant states “show me all of your body. That way nothing is secret or hidden from me.” The victim then sends a full body picture showing her breasts and vagina. It is evident this is new production because Minor Victim 1 states she needs to shave and Defendant responds he isn’t bothered by it before Minor Victim 1 says she will need some time to take a decent picture.

The text messages continue to when Defendant travels to Massachusetts to have sex with Minor Victim 1. After that encounter, the following exchange takes place:

MV1: Yes, I'm a little upset about something though

Defendant: What's that

MV1: I didn't like the whole not putting the condom on right away thing. I'm going to be paranoid as hell now

Defendant: I'm sorry baby

MV1: I don't want to take risks like that

Defendant: I'm sorry

MV1: It's okay just ask me before doing stuff like that next time

Defendant: You're right. I should've asked

Defendant then proceed to buy Plan B for Minor Victim 1.

The rest of the messages continue with the grooming and requests for child sex abuse material. At one point, Defendant asks Minor Victim 1 if she is still horny and suggests that she “take care of it” but then says “Don’t forget to show me.”

When Minor Victim 1 responds that she will, Defendant responds “Good girl.” They also discuss Defendant watching Minor Victim 1 engage in a sex act on a video call. In other words, the Defendant used Minor Victim 1 to engage in sexually explicit conduct in live chats that law enforcement does not have a record of.

The U. S. Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas issued the following press released today:

A Kansas man was sentenced to 222 months in prison for enticing a minor to create and send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, Garrett Gayoso, 25, of Baxter Springs pleaded guilty to one count production of child pornography.

Gayoso met the 16- year-old minor online. Evidence shows the victim was quickly forthcoming with Gayoso about her age. Gayoso groomed and convinced the victim to engage in sexually explicit activity, produce visual depictions of the conduct, and then send him the images via text messages. Between August 2024 and April 2025, Gayoso exchanged text messages with the minor that contained over 100 CSAM images.

“The defendant in this case was a law enforcement officer at the time this crime occurred. It’s deeply troubling that someone who took an oath to protect and serve the public would turn out to be someone from whom our society needs protection,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Child predators are master manipulators. Children should be taught that any time someone directs them to keep secrets from trusted adults that is not someone with whom they should be communicating.”

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) investigated the case.