Bellevue photographer sentenced for making, possessing child porn

A Bellevue photographer teared up and his shoulders slumped Wednesday as a Sarpy County district judge sentenced him to prison for making and possessing child pornography. Moments earlier, the attorney for 37-year-old Jay Samudio had tried to persuade Judge Stefanie Martinez that his client would be a good candidate for probation, based partly on his lack of a criminal history. Samudio, dressed in a blue blazer and tan slacks, repeatedly apologized for his actions, telling the judge that he had "lost everyone's trust" and he was "glad" to be in the courtroom. "I hurt when I read the documents from (the prosecution)," Samudio said. "I don't expect anyone to believe me. I don't expect anyone's trust. I lost that." Phil Kleine, a deputy prosecutor with the Sarpy County Attorney's Office, said two 13-year-old girls told Bellevue police in 2017 about photo sessions with Samudio in which they were nude or semi-nude. Samudio "showered the girls with gifts, including clothes, jewels, food, underwear and bras," Kleine said. Samudio said that the gifts he gave the girls were intended to help underprivileged youth. Kleine called the notion "just ridiculous." Samudio didn't get probation. Martinez sentenced him to eight to 12 years for manufacturing child pornography and two to five years for being in possession of child pornography. The sentences are to be served at the same time. Samudio will be eligible for parole after four years and released after six. Samudio met the girls and their relatives through his ex-wife, Kleine said. The girls have been in counseling and appear to be doing well, he said. "In talking with the family, they're happy with the outcome," he said. "They're just glad that he is going to prison."