United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe has announced that Matthew Christopher Yates, a former eighth-grade teacher from Hastings, Florida, has pleaded guilty to attempting to entice a 14-year-old child into engaging in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a video.
The horrifying case began on February 11, 2022, when Yates, using an online alias “English teacher,” communicated with an undercover FBI agent posing as a 14-year-old girl. During their exchange, Yates made predatory comments and sent explicit photos of himself to the underage girl.
By March 8, 2022, Yates had planned a meeting with the child, detailing his intentions for sexual abuse. He even asked her if she wanted to video-record their planned acts, which he claimed would be deleted to keep it secret.
On March 11, 2022, Yates was arrested by FBI agents at a prearranged location in Jacksonville, Florida. A search incident to his arrest revealed several condoms and a cellphone with him.
Yates faces a minimum of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 18, 2025.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. It is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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