Sex Offender Sentenced to 24 Years for Coercing Child

A sex offender from Hampton, Va. has been sentenced to 293 months in prison for coercing a 12-year-old child online and receiving child pornography.

William Rollie Armstrong, 50, pleaded guilty on February 22 to coercion and enticement of a child, and receipt of child pornography.

According to court documents, Armstrong befriended the child on a social networking site called InterPals by pretending to be a 13-year-old boy from New York. He sent the child sexually explicit photos and asked her to engage in sexual conduct that would be a crime in Virginia.

Agents executed a search warrant on Armstrong’s home in Hampton and seized electronic devices. A forensic exam of the devices revealed that Armstrong had images of child pornography as well as images of the 12-year-old child.

This is Armstrong’s third conviction for sexual crimes involving minors. He was previously convicted of sexual assault in 1992 and possession with the intent to distribute child pornography in 1999.

U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente and FBI Special Agent in Charge John S. Adams announced the sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa R. McKeel prosecuted the case.

Armstrong will serve 25 years of supervised release upon his release from prison. The case is a reminder of the dangers of online predators and the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.