A local wedding photographer convicted and sentenced to prison on federal child pornography charges has left several couples in the lurch.
Jeffrey Valenta was sentenced to 60 months in prison, and now brides and grooms are scrambling to find photographers even though they're out the money they paid to book Valenta.
“I’d like to think I could see my money again, but I’m not holding my breath for that," said Megan Johnson, who gets married Aug. 25.
Johnson hired Valenta, the owner of Infinite POSEabilities in Irwin, and paid him more than $2,500 in installments, with the final payment due the day of her wedding.
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“Someone has posted their photographer was in jail and I was like, 'Oh my God, this is a nightmare,' so I look and it’s Infinite POSEabilities -- 'Oh my God, this is my photographer,'" Johnson said.
Valenta was charged in federal court for child pornography in 2015, but continued booking weddings. He was sentenced to five years in federal prison last month.
“I’m disgusted. We had our engagement pictures done and my 10-year-old was there," Johnson said. "Thank God they were never alone.
"it’s a shame -- people can go out and do business knowing I could be sitting in jail for your wedding, you paid me all this money and I don’t really care.”
Cox Media Group