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San Antonio Man Sentenced to 135 Years in Prison for Child Pornography
San Antonio, TX – In a devastating blow to a man accused of exploiting the most vulnerable among us, 39-year-old Carl Wade Bailes was sentenced to 135 years in federal prison for producing, receiving, possessing, and distributing child pornography. The sentence was handed down by Chief United States District Judge Fred Biery in San Antonio this afternoon.
The charges stem from a 2012 investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. According to court records and trial testimony, undercover FBI agents discovered numerous files depicting child pornography available for download from a peer-to-peer file sharing program on the Internet in September 2012. Further investigation identified Bailes as the person responsible for making the child pornography available through the use of his personal computer.
On October 22, 2012, FBI agents seized Bailes’ computer, which revealed that he had deleted child pornography from his device, including 157 files available for download on September 20, 2012, and 50 files available for download on October 4, 2012. Authorities were able to recover evidence that Bailes produced images depicting the sexual abuse of two minor females, ages 15 and 6. Bailes was convicted in July of two counts of production of child pornography, two counts of distribution of child pornography, two counts of possession of child pornography, and one count of receipt of child pornography.
“The magnitude of this extraordinary sentence speaks to the depravity of Bailes’ conduct. There is little more that needs to be said about him,” stated United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr.
The FBI is committed to protecting children in our community, who are among the most vulnerable and precious in our society,” stated Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, FBI San Antonio Division.
This joint investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Bailes will not retain monies from his military disability or retirement, which will instead be used to compensate his victims and possibly cover court costs. The Government has been asked to look into the matter of restitution in this case.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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