WICHITA, KAN – A former Kansas sheriff's office employee was sentenced to 222 months in prison for enticing a minor to create and send him child sexual abuse material, according to the United State's Attorney.
According to court documents, Garrett Gayoso, 25, of Baxter Springs pleaded guilty to one count production of child pornography.
Gayoso was employed as a Cherokee County Sheriff’s deputy in 2024 when he met a 16-year-old girl online and traveled to Massachusetts, where he sexually abused the teen.
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.
In February 2025, Gayoso was promoted to the role of detective and assigned to investigate online crimes against children. He resigned when the victim’s mother alerted authorities to the online activity.
“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.