Former Connecticut Little League Coach Admits to Traveling for Illicit Sex with Minor
PROVIDENCE – A former Connecticut little league vice president and coach has pleaded guilty to traveling in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and transporting child pornography.
Christopher L. Merchant, 33, of Canterbury, Conn., admitted to communicating with an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old boy via social media. The communications rapidly turned sexually graphic, and Merchant arranged to meet with the boy at a Warwick hotel to engage in illicit sexual activity.
Merchant was arrested by members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force on January 25, 2019. A review of his cell phone revealed images of child pornography stored in the phone.
Merchant was initially held on state charges at the ACI until posting bail on January 28. He was re-arrested on a federal arrest warrant two days after his release from the ACI.
Merchant pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence today to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and transporting child pornography.
Merchant is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith on June 28, 2019.
Travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 30 years in federal prison, a term of supervised release of 5 years to life, and a mandatory $5,000 special assessment imposed as required by the Justice for Victims Trafficking Act in child sexual exploitation cases where the Court makes a finding that the defendant is not indigent.
Transporting child pornography is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment, with a mandatory 5 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release of 5 years to life, and a mandatory $5,000 special assessment imposed as required by the Justice for Victims Trafficking Act in child sexual exploitation cases where the Court makes a finding that the defendant is not indigent.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
Mandatory Facts: Defendant: Christopher L. Merchant; Charges: Travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, Transporting child pornography; City and State: Providence, Rhode Island; Date: January 25, 2019; Outcome: Pleaded guilty; Prison time: Up to 30 years for travel, up to 20 years for transporting; Fine: Mandatory $5,000 special assessment; Current Status: Scheduled for sentencing on June 28, 2019.
Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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