LOGAN — A 42-year-old Providence man accused of downloading hundreds of child sexual abuse files has accepted a plea deal, waiving his right to a trial. Chad David Hubbard was arrested in January 2023, after police reportedly seized more than 850 images and videos at his home.
According to court records, Hubbard appeared Aug. 25 in Logan’s 1st District Court. He pleaded “no contest” to seven counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony. As part of the plea agreement, eight remaining charges were dismissed.
The plea meant Hubbard conceded the alleged crimes occurred without admitting guilt or offering a defense. It is still viewed as a guilty plea in court.
According to prosecutors, the Logan City Police Department received a cybertip in April 2021, detailing how a Yahoo email account was being used to exchange child pornography. The account was tracked to a phone number, registered to Hubbard.
During the course of the investigation, Hubbard, who was originally living at a home in Logan, moved to his current residence in Providence. Police obtained a warrant for the IP addresses at both locations.
On Jan. 24, 2023, police served a warrant to Hubbard’s Providence home. During a search of the residence, they seized a USB flash drive. It contained 43 videos of child pornography, most involving boys between the age of 3 and 15-years-old.
Police also located what was suspected to be Hubbard’s cell phone during the search. It contained over 800 images of female children dressed in minimal clothing, and in provocative and revealing poses. Most of the females appeared to be approximately 10-years-old.
Hubbard was questioned by investigators at the police department. He reportedly admitted to owning the seized cellphone and previously accessing the Yahoo email account before being locked out.
Hubbard is currently out of jail on $1,500 bond. He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 15 and could face up to 15-years in prison.