Marina
Joel Womochil, a 39-year-old former police chief from El Dorado, Kansas, has officially been stripped of his law enforcement license following his conviction and sentencing in a federal child pornography case.
The Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training issued a summary order of revocation in late April, which was made publicly available in May.
60-Year Federal Prison Sentence for Child Pornography
On March 28, Womochil received a 60-year sentence in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child and production of child pornography.
According to federal court records, each charge resulted in a 30-year sentence to be served consecutively. Additionally, Womochil has been ordered to pay $529,050 in restitution to victims.
Employment History and Resignation
Womochil’s career in law enforcement included serving as the Burns Police Chief beginning on February 8, 2022. He also worked part-time roles with the Butler County Sheriff’s Office as a detention deputy and the Peabody Police Department.
His resignation came on August 8, 2023, just days before his arrest on August 15, 2023. Authorities charged him with more than a dozen counts of child pornography, including possession of 13 videos, one of which showed a child under age 5 with a pacifier.
Co-Conspirators and Sentencing
Three additional individuals were convicted and sentenced in the same federal child pornography conspiracy:
1. Taylor Mullen and Jessica Quave
- Mullen, 33, and his girlfriend Quave, 38, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child.
- In 2021, they produced explicit videos involving a child under six years old and sent them to Womochil.
- Both received 30-year prison sentences in March.
2. Denise Sandman
- Denise Sandman, 40, from Indiana, was the fourth person involved.
- She met Womochil online in 2019 and agreed to produce and share sexually explicit images of a child under five.
- Sandman pleaded guilty to two charges: conspiracy and production of child pornography.
- She received a 60-year federal prison sentence.
Background on Burns, Kansas
Burns is a small Kansas town with fewer than 250 residents, located approximately 50 miles northeast of Wichita. The size and quiet nature of the town sharply contrast with the serious federal crimes that unfolded.
The revocation of Joel Womochil’s law enforcement license marks the final professional consequence following his involvement in a disturbing child pornography conspiracy.
His 60-year prison sentence, alongside the convictions of his co-conspirators, underscores the gravity of their crimes. Law enforcement agencies and the public continue to reckon with the profound breach of trust caused by a former police chief involved in such heinous acts.
FAQs
What charges did Joel Womochil plead guilty to?
Womochil pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child and production of child pornography, receiving a 60-year prison sentence.
Who else was involved in the case with Womochil?
Taylor Mullen, Jessica Quave, and Denise Sandman were co-conspirators. They were also sentenced to long federal prison terms for their roles in producing and sharing child pornography.
When did Womochil lose his law enforcement certification?
His certification was officially revoked in late April 2025 by the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, with the decision made public in May.