A retired Army combat medic has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for his role in the sexual exploitation of two children.
Eric Scott McCants, 47, produced sexually explicit videos involving prepubescent children and shared them in a child exploitation group on a social networking application in July 2021. FBI agents seized his phone and discovered additional sexually explicit videos, some of which depicted a second minor female and dated back to as early as October 2018.
McCants was arrested on August 13, 2021 and indicted September 1, 2021 for four counts related to the production, possession and distribution of child pornography. He pleaded guilty August 7, 2024 to two counts of sexual exploitation of children.
As part of his sentence, McCants will serve 25 years imprisonment for each count, and will also pay $100,000 in restitution to the two victims.
“This 50-year sentence sends a clear message that the sexual exploitation of children has lasting traumatic effects on vulnerable victims and will not be tolerated in the Western District,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas.
“The details of this case and McCants’ exploitation of minors are horrific, and we hope this sentence will allow his victims some measure of comfort in knowing he will never be able to hurt another child,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio field office.
The FBI investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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