Hot Springs Man Jailed 7 Years for Sick Child Porn Sting

A Hot Springs man is behind bars after a sickening child porn sting operation. Christian Justus Willard, 24, a/k/a ‘Bamalife24’, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for Receipt of Child Pornography.

The sentencing took place on May 14, 2024, in Rapid City, South Dakota, before Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jonathan A. Kobes. Willard was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $3,000 in restitution to his victim.

Willard’s crimes date back to 2023 when he used the internet-based application Snapchat to entice a 13-year-old female to engage in sexually explicit activity. Despite knowing the victim’s age, Willard solicited sexually explicit photos and videos from the victim and offered her drugs.

According to court records, Willard saved several of the illegal photos and videos on his cellular phone. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The case was investigated by the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Hot Springs Police Department, and the Fall River County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.

Willard was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. This case is a stark reminder of the dangers of child exploitation and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable.