Tech Predator Sentenced to 40 Years | Los Angeles News

A tech-savvy predator who used his church IT role to secretly install spyware on children’s laptops, recording explicit material and directing kids to create inappropriate content, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison. Jacob Melvin Hart, previously convicted in 2006 for installing a hidden camera in a girls’ locker room, exploited his position of trust to target at least eight children, including recording a girl in the bathtub and showering. Arrested at Miami Airport in 2025, Hart’s crimes have sparked lawsuits against Crossline Community Church, alleging negligence and failure to vet his criminal history. The sentence sends a chilling message: technology can’t be weaponized against children without severe consequences. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4008e21d0837ad10 Presented by The Plant Daddies — rare specimen trees, living art, and hand-carved limestone vessels and fountains for extraordinary spaces. Showrooms in Los Angeles and Irvine. Listeners of Los Angeles News Today receive 10% off with code LANEWS10. theplantdaddies.com/lanews