Woman admits to sexual exploitation of children, gets 15 years
A 26-year-old Warren woman has pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting young children and distributing child pornography for which she will serve at least 15 years in prison.
Amber Nicole Dunbar pleaded guilty to the two charges Tuesday in front of Judge George C. Steeh in U.S. District Court in Detroit after she was indicted last December by a grand jury, in a plea agreement with U.S. Attorneys.
The exploitation charge carries a term of 15 to 30 years in prison and the distribution charge carries a penalty of five to 20 years.
She remains in custody awaiting her June 1 sentencing but is seeking a bond release so she can have her mouth fitted for dentures; her teeth were removed shortly before her Dec. 8 arrest and she was scheduled to be measured for dentures at a time after her arrest, says her attorney, Amanda Bashi, in a legal motion for bond.
“Ms. Dunbar’s jawbone will deteriorate as time progresses without any dentures or teeth,” Bashi wrote. “That bone loss is permanent and can lead to lifelong medical issues.”
The process would take four visits with three weeks between each visit, Bashi says.
Bashi notes Dunbar also gave birth two weeks before her arrest and didn’t receive postpartum treatment. Dunbar has three children in all.
She also has had mental health issues that also could be treated while on bond, her attorney added.
In arguing for her release on a GPS tether, Bashi said Dunbar is not a flight risk, has minimal criminal history and would reside with her mother, stepfather and sister in a residence with no children.
Judge Steeh has not ruled on the request, which was submitted by Bashi on Monday.
As part of the plea, Dunbar admitted to using a phone to film herself orally penetrating the genitals of a 7-month-old infant last August andsend the video to an individual in Kentucky over the Kik online platform, according to the plea deal.
In two incidents last June and July, Dunbar took sexually explicit photos of a minor born in 2017, including a “lascivious display” of the minor’s genitals, with her cell phone and sent the images to someone in the Eastern District of Michigan, documents say.
Both victims were under her “care and custody,” U.S. Attorneys say.
Federal agents said they were alerted to Dunbar’s alleged activities by authorities in another state investigating a man who had been communicating with individuals on the Kik app, asking them to produce and send him child porn.
Dunbar said on social media she was a stay-at-home mom. Her Twitter profile says she is a “Mama Bear” and “Lover Of Coffee And Food.”
As part of the plea, Dunbar agreed she cannot withdraw her plea after the judge determines the guideline range. U.S. attorneys say they will recommend the judge not exceed whatever the top of the guideline range is.
She also agrees to five years of supervised release.