May 23, 2024 - SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On May 16, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Christopher King, 29, of Red Bluff, charging him with attempted sexual exploitation of a child and distribution and possession of visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The case was unsealed Tuesday following his arrest.

According to court documents, King attempted to sexually abuse a minor by producing secret recordings of the minor utilizing a hidden camera. King also distributed images of children involved in sexually explicit conduct on an online social media platform. Finally, King possessed several images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct on electronic devices seized from his residence.

This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins is prosecuting the case.

If convicted of attempted sexual exploitation of a child, King faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, restitution, and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of distribution of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, King faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, plus restitution and a fine. If convicted of possession of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, King faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, plus restitution and a fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Source: DOJ Release