HERNANDO (MS)
TVMO News Network [Holly Springs, MS]
June 2, 2026
By TVMO News Network - MS
The DeSoto County DA’s office has released a statement regarding the guilty plea of a trainee Catholic priest from Nesbit who has pled guilty to child exploitation charges. The statement reads as follows:
A DeSoto County man has pleaded guilty to child exploitation after investigators discovered he was actively uploading and downloading child sexual abuse material from a residence in Nesbit.
On June 1, 2026, Jonathan Tu Nguyen-Vuong pleaded guilty in DeSoto County Circuit Court to one count of Child Exploitation for uploading and downloading known images of child sexual abuse material. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 3, 2026, and faces a sentence of not less than five years and up to forty years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
The case began as DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office investigators participated in an ongoing investigation involving the transmission of child sexual abuse material over the internet. During the course of that investigation, investigators identified a device located at St. Michael’s Community House in Nesbit as a source of uploaded and downloaded child sexual abuse material.
Investigators obtained a search warrant and executed it at the residence. During the search, Nguyen-Vuong was identified as the individual responsible for the activity. Investigators discovered that his computer was actively uploading and downloading child sexual abuse material while law enforcement was conducting the search.
Law enforcement further learned that Nguyen-Vuong was working at a summer camp involving children. He also admitted to teaching religion to children and serving as a seminarian. Investigators quickly took Nguyen-Vuong into custody.
During an interview with investigators, Nguyen-Vuong confessed to uploading and downloading child sexual abuse material. As a precaution, investigators contacted parents of children who had been around Nguyen-Vuong to ensure their safety and determine whether any additional victims existed.
Investigators noted that the religious community associated with St. Michael’s Community House was cooperative throughout the investigation.
Lead prosecutor Steven Jubera said, “as a prosecutor and faithful Catholic it is my duty to ensure the Church and schools are a safe place for children to be. The work of investigators and the long sentence we will be asking the court for will protect children from any predator”.
The case remains pending sentencing.
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