TYLER, Texas — A former licensed peace officer has pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, facing between 40 and 60 years in federal prison under the terms of a plea agreement, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Skyler Douglas Laza, 34, entered his guilty plea on Monday, July 27, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love in the Eastern District of Texas.
Exploitation of Child Under 12
According to federal court documents, Laza persuaded a minor under the age of 12 on at least two separate occasions to engage in sexually explicit conduct. The former law enforcement officer utilized a cell phone to record and create visual depictions of the explicit activity.
The multi-agency investigation was conducted jointly by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Dallas Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Palestine Police Department.
Agreed Plea Framework and Mandatory Terms
Under the terms of Laza’s plea agreement, both parties agreed to a recommended sentencing range of between 40 and 60 years in federal prison.
In addition to the substantial prison term, the agreement mandates lifetime supervised release upon discharge as well as mandatory lifetime sex offender registration.
The actual sentence will be determined by the court following a presentence investigation conducted by the U.S. Probation Office, evaluating advisory sentencing guidelines and statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek is leading the prosecution for the Eastern District of Texas.
