Former Newport News Firefighter Pleads Guilty To Heinous Sexual Abuse And Distribution Involving Three Month Old Infant

Alex Tyler Buenaga pleads guilty to production of CSAM and infant abuse. The former Newport News firefighter faces up to life in federal prison.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 10:07 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia

A Descent Into Systematic Domestic Violence

The Eastern District of Virginia has recorded a guilty plea in one of the most severe cases of infant exploitation in the region's recent history. Alex Tyler Buenaga, a former member of the Newport News Fire Department, admitted to a horrific pattern of abuse beginning in October 2024. According to federal court documents, Buenaga targeted a three month old infant, subjecting the child to repeated sexual assaults while recording the acts for digital distribution. The investigation revealed that the abuse was not isolated but part of a systematic series of criminal acts that the defendant meticulously documented on nearly 100 separate occasions over the course of several months.

Narcotics and the Involvement of Outside Parties

Federal prosecutors detailed a disturbing intersection of high-level child exploitation and illegal drug use at Buenaga's Suffolk residence. The defendant reportedly invited an associate, 45 year old Ryan Wade Johnston, to participate in the ongoing abuse. Investigators uncovered evidence that the pair engaged in the consumption of methamphetamine during these sessions. In one particularly harrowing recording cited by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Buenaga was filmed blowing methamphetamine smoke directly into the infant's face. This additional layer of chemical endangerment has further intensified the prosecution's pursuit of maximum statutory penalties for the former firefighter.

Digital Triggers and FBI Task Force Intervention

The identification and rescue of the victim were made possible through an emergency tip regarding activity on the Telegram instant messaging application. In January 2025, agents with the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force tracked the digital footprint of the CSAM distribution back to Buenaga’s home. Law enforcement officers executed a high-priority intervention, arresting both Buenaga and Johnston before further harm could be inflicted on the infant. Officials noted that the rapid response of federal agents likely prevented a fatal outcome, given the escalating nature of the physical and chemical abuse documented in the recovered video files.