Seattle resident found guilty of producing child sexual abuse material in Vietnam

A Seattle man was convicted Thursday for producing child sexual abuse imagery of sexually abused children in Vietnam, the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed.

Richard Stanley Maness Jr., 38, was convicted of two federal felonies after a three-day jury trial. Maness faces a minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison.

Seattle man convicted of child abuse in Vietnam

Law enforcement in Vietnam rescued two young children who had been kidnapped off the street in April 2024, according to records filed in the case. The mother of the two sisters was in distress when she lost track of her children.

Records showed Maness rented an Airbnb, and the two young girls were taken to the apartment by a female co-conspirator of Maness’s.

Messages between the co-conspirators documented Maness directing the sexual abuse of a child as young as six years old. The female co-conspirator then sent the images of the child sexual abuse to Maness over the internet. Maness also had plans to travel to Vietnam for further child sexual abuse.

Law enforcement arrested Maness in a Seattle apartment after detectives in Vietnam contacted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Detectives provided the DHS with information regarding the child kidnapping and abuse by Maness and the female co-conspirator.

Maness has remained in federal custody since August 28, 2024, when he was arrested. Maness is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones on November 14, 2025.

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