A Clay County man will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of production of child pornography and one count of transportation of child pornography.
According to prosecutors, Michael James Baker, 32, of Ashland, produced a video of him raping a small child and posted the video online.
During a multi-agency undercover sting, Baker chatted online with an agent expressing desires to have sex with two other children and he admitted to sexual acts with a 13-year-old child.
After his arrest, another young child disclosed that Baker also raped her.
FBI Birmingham Division and FBI New Orleans Division investigated the case along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Internet Crimes Against Children, Lineville Police Department, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Oxford Police Department, Anniston Major Crimes Unit, Anniston Police Department, Alabama State Troopers, Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Russell County Sheriff’s Office.
U.S. District Court Judge Cory L. Maze sentenced Baker to 960 months in prison, followed by a life term of supervised release. He would also be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona asks anyone aware of possible sexual exploitation of children to contact the FBI’s Birmingham office.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice.
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