Ashlee Cheatham: Stillwater Woman Sentenced After She Sexually Abused Her Boyfriend’s 3-year-old Daughter and Filmed It
A disturbing criminal investigation in Stillwater, Oklahoma, led to the arrest and conviction of a woman named Ashlee Cheatham.
In December 2024, she was sentenced to 30 years in prison for child sexual abuse and child pornography charges.
This case unraveled after her former boyfriend made a disturbing discovery that prompted immediate action from the local police department.
Let's get into it.
A Father Nightmare: How It All Began
On the morning of August 22, 2023, a distraught father walked into the local police department, demanding to speak with an officer.
According to police reports, the man met Ashlee Cheatham online and began dating her, as reported by Law&Crime.
Ashlee Cheatham was 19 years old at the time.
After some time together, he allowed her to move in with him and his young daughter who was just 3 years old.
On August 21, 2023, while Cheatham was asleep, he decided to check her phone—and what he found was horrifying.
According to Law&Crime, Ashlee Cheatham's phone contained disturbing explicit photographs and videos of his three-year-old daughter.
This discovery enraged the father leading him to immediately contact authorities.
While authorities didn’t specify the content of the videos or pictures, they noted that the father was deeply enraged and worried when he came to make the report.
“This case is deeply unsettling for everyone involved. It reminds parents to always trust their instincts,” said Lt. TJ Low of the Stillwater Police Department.
Investigation and Arrest of Ashlee Cheatham
After the police report by the distraught father, detectives quickly launched an investigation, leading to Ashlee Cheatham's arrest.
Body camera footage footage below from Law&Crime shows officers arriving at the couple’s home later that day and placing Cheatham in handcuffs.
Further investigation by the digital forensic team, confirmed the presence of illicit material on Cheatham's phone, leading to multiple serious charges.
Authorities also discovered that Ashlee Cheatham had applied for a job as a paraprofessional at Nicoma Park Elementary School.
However, once news of the investigation surfaced, the school district terminated the hiring process immediately.
“The suspect never worked for the district, never received a paycheck, and has never been with any of our students,” a district spokesperson told KOCO-TV.
In addition to the child exploitation charges, Cheatham was also found in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, leading to additional charges.
Ashlee Cheatham's Trial and Sentencing
On October 16, 2024, Ashlee Cheatham
entered a blind plea, meaning she did not negotiate a deal with prosecutors.
On December 13, 2024, a judge sentenced her to 30 years in prison on multiple felony counts, including:
- Possession of child pornography – 10 years
- Child sexual abuse – 20 years
- Child sexual exploitation – 30 years (with 10 years suspended)
- Unlawful access to a computer to violate Oklahoma statutes – 30 years (with 10 years suspended)
- Unlawful possession of a controlled drug – 5 years
- Unlawful possession of a controlled drug – 1 year
According to court records, Ashlee Cheatham's crime is classified as 85%, as reported by KOKH
This means that she must serve at least 85% of her sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
Additionally, she will have to register as a sex offender upon release and will be supervised by the Department of Corrections Probation and Parole.
Her defense attorney attempted to argue for a lighter sentence, but the court ruled in favor of a harsher punishment given the severity of the crimes.
In the end, this true crime case reminds parents to stay vigilant about the people they allow near their children.
“Trust your gut. Do a thorough background check on anyone watching your kids,” said Lt. Low of the Stillwater Police Department.
As Cheatham begins her lengthy sentence, her crimes serve as a stark warning—justice will be swift and severe for those who harm innocent children.
Stay tuned to our blog or subscribe to our free email newsletter for more true crime stories for more true crime stories.
Got a tip about a crime? Please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS immediately.
You can also see how to report a crime anonymously online if you wish to remain anonymous.
Comments
Post a Comment