One of the first girls to appear on 16 and Pregnant is now preparing to spend the next six-plus years behind bars.
Lori Wickelhaus— who starred on the show’s second season alongside Leah Messer, Kail Lowry and the rest of the original Teen Mom 2 girls back in 2010— was sentenced on Wednesday to 6.5 years in prison, three months after she pleaded guilty to the child p0rnography charges filed against her last summer.
Fox19 reports that, as part of her plea agreement, Lori must obtain mental health counseling.
Back in May, Lori changed her plea to guilty regarding the 20 counts of “Possessing/viewing matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor.” (It is unknown how many of those 20 charges she pleaded guilty to.) She was due to be sentenced on in June for her crimes, but never made it to the sentencing. Lori was booked into Kentucky’s Campbell County Detention Center and given an additional charge of being in Contempt of Court (Libel/Slander Resistance to [Court] Order.)
It is unknown if that charge was dropped or not.
Lori’s legal battle began in August 2020, when she was arrested for possession of child p0rnography. According to the police report from the arrest, the offending material was found on Lori’s iPhone and laptop, with the viewing dates listed as September 23, 2019 and December 18-19, 2019.
According to the report, the county’s police department received a Cybertip from the Kentucky State Police Internet Crimes Against Task Force that was originally submitted by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The tip came in after an unknown person uploaded photos that showed illicit child images to a Dropbox account. From there, a search began in March of Lori’s computers and phone, and she was indicted on August 13 and arrested.
She delivered quite the mugshot for that arrest, shown with her eye makeup streaming down her face after what had obviously been a period of heavy sobbing.
Fans of “16 and Pregnant” will most likely remember Lori’s episode, which was one of the most heartbreaking of the entire series.
Fans of “16 and Pregnant” will most likely remember Lori’s episode, which was one of the most heartbreaking of the entire series. During the episode, Lori and her then-boyfriend Corey Haskett struggled with their decision to place their baby boy for adoption. Lori— who was adopted herself— eventually decided on an open adoption and placed her son, Aiden (who was born in December 2009) with his adoptive family at the end of the episode.
Lori opened up years later about how hard the period of time following Aiden’s adoption was for her.
“[I] fell into a downward spiral,” Lori said in a video filmed in 2012 about Lori’s stay at Q&A Associates, a transitional program for young adults in West Virginia. “I had no dreams, I had no goals, I didn’t care what happened day to day,”
Lori went on to have two more children after Aiden’s adoption. She welcomed daughter Rylynn in 2013 and son Logan in 2014. It is unknown where the children currently reside.
(Photos: Campbell County; MTV)
13 Responses
Lori obviously had some developmental difficulties and should not have been in a position to have a baby. The baby daddy was wrong as well to be having sex with a child with problems.
The adoptive parents had the wherewithal to know this and that the best option was for her to not raise the baby.
MTV has outdone themselves with this hire. Great job guys.
stay lit
The fact that that “counting on” creep is probably getting away with his p0rn charches also shows how the US court system is biased against woman and people of color.
Seriously? Black people in America get 15-20 years for having weed on them. White girl get 6.5 years FOR CHILD P0rn?!! Wtf America?
6.5 years for possession of child pornography? What a joke
I hope she has a miserable time in there. Sad someone who does this gets 6.5 years but someone who smokes or gets caught with weed gets a heavier and longer sentence. The US justice system SUCKS.
No one is going to jail or prison anymore for weed. In Chicago, people are getting probation and $500 bonds for car jacking the elderly.
And ppl in San Francisco can walk out of CVS with $900 worth of crap and not pay and not get charged with a crime bc equity.
Her episode was so depressing. She had NO family support. He mom was an cold and emotionally unattached witch. He baby daddy was a complete jerk. I remember feeling so bad for this girl who seemingly had nobody in her corner. I could feel her pain through my TV set.
All that being said, I’m glad she’s being locked up. Those charges are disturbing and there is no excuse or reason to explain them away. Since she’ll be out in 6 years, I hope she is able to get whatever help she can so that she isnt a threat to society when she’s released.
Ever think her mom knew that Lori was in no way equipped to parent a child? Perhaps that’s why she pushed so hard for adoption? I don’t see this as being a “witch”, but as trying to do right by an innocent baby.
They knew and wanted the adoption but they didn’t force her and Corey either to choose adoption, they did say eventually to make a decision because they had kept stalling and Corey after saying to Lori he wanted to keep Aidan changed his mind then he changed his mind again at the hospital. Lori’s parents had custody of her other children, not sure if they still do or if her ex Joey has custody. I just pray those children are never around her again.
6.5 years for child porn is not enough!!
Agree it’s a slap on the wrist!!! She knows right from wrong!! She deserves more jail time and doesn’t need a Psychic evaluation!!!