In Chattanooga, Tennessee, Eric Lee Bagley, a 44-year-old resident of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, has been sentenced to a 20-year prison term by United States District Court Judge Charles Atchley. This sentencing took place in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Following his prison term, Bagley will undergo 10 years of supervised release, during which he must register as a sex offender and adhere to specific conditions related to his status. Additionally, he has been prohibited from owning, possessing, or accessing animals.
Bagley’s sentencing comes after he agreed to plead guilty to charges outlined in an indictment. These charges included one count of distribution of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2), and one count of distribution of a crush video, violating 18 U.S.C. 48(a)(3). The plea agreement, filed with the court, included Bagley’s admission to contacting an undercover officer on the online platform Kik in February 2023. Bagley believed this officer was an adult female with access to her 8-year-old niece and expressed interest in engaging in sexual activities with both, including the involvement of a dog.
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Throughout his communication with the individual he thought was an adult, Bagley distributed several videos showcasing minors and dogs in sexually explicit acts, defined under the law as “crush videos.” On July 27, 2023, Bagley traveled to Athens, Tennessee, with the intention of fulfilling these illicit activities but was subsequently arrested.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It was part of a larger undercover operation targeting crimes against children, specifically the FBI’s annual Operation Cross Country. Various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Shelbyville Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Red Bank Police Department, Chattanooga Police Department, and the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office, participated in the joint investigation.
This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. More information about PSC can be found at www.justice.gov/psc. Additionally, resources for internet safety education are available at www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html.
Source: Read Original Release