ROME, Ga. – Christopher Welcher, a repeat offender, and William Eric Cooper have confessed to preying on children, pleading guilty to federal charges of child enticement and, in Welcher’s case, tampering with evidence. The guilty pleas, entered August 15, 2025, mark the culmination of investigations by federal and state authorities into disturbing cases of online exploitation.
Welcher, 45, of Coweta County, is no stranger to the system. He previously served over six years in federal prison following a 2016 conviction for distributing visual depictions of child sex abuse. While on post-release supervision, Welcher engaged in a chilling exchange with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl. He explicitly stated his preference for “14 [as] the perfect age [for] kissing, talking, sexting, having sex, and more,” and even encouraged the “girl” to skip school to facilitate sexual contact – conduct that would be aggravated child molestation under Georgia law. His attempt to meet the undercover officer near a Floyd County high school was cut short by law enforcement, who seized his phone, revealing hundreds of additional images of child sexual abuse.
The depravity didn’t end there. While incarcerated in the Floyd County Jail, Welcher attempted to obstruct justice by directing his wife, Connie Thompson, to destroy electronic devices at their Grantville, Georgia home. During a recorded phone call, Welcher and Thompson hatched a plan to eliminate evidence, with Thompson vowing to “bust the f*** out of” the devices, which contained prohibited pornographic images violating the terms of Welcher’s supervised release. Despite her efforts, FBI agents recovered damaged digital storage drives from the kitchen trash, though the data was irretrievable.
In a separate but equally disturbing case, William Eric Cooper, a resident of Bartow County, Georgia, engaged in a prolonged and predatory online relationship with a 15-year-old child. Between February 6, 2025, and February 24, 2025, Cooper exchanged over 1,000 chat messages with the minor, quickly learning she was a ninth grader. The conversation rapidly turned sexual, with Cooper directing the child to perform explicit acts and send him depictions in exchange for promises of a meeting in North Carolina and assistance in running away from home. The child complied with Cooper’s demands. A search of Cooper’s car and home revealed a sexually explicit video of the 15-year-old victim, along with over 250 images and videos depicting other minors.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, who personally handled the court proceedings, underscored the gravity of the crimes. “Protecting children from sexual predators is among the highest priorities for law enforcement at every level,” he stated. “In northwest Georgia, state and local officers collaborate closely with federal agents to keep our kids safe. My office is fully committed to supporting their efforts, and, while I serve as United States Attorney, I will continue to prosecute these important cases personally.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown added, “These crimes are especially disturbing. Those who engage in child exploitation will be held accountable for their conduct.”
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the GBI’s dedication to protecting vulnerable individuals. “We will continue working alongside our partners to safeguard children from those who seek to exploit them. These guilty pleas send a clear message: those who prey on children will be held accountable.” Sentencing dates for Welcher and Cooper have not yet been announced. This remains a developing story, and Grimy Times will continue to provide updates as they become available.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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