North Georgia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Enticing a Child

KENNETH C. CHASE, 63, of Gainesville, Georgia, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Thomas T. Thrash to serve over 15 years in federal prison on a charge of using a computer to attempt to entice a child for sexual activity.

“This case illustrates how important it is for law enforcement to be vigilant in investigating those who use the internet to express a willingness to sexually exploit children,” United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said.

CHASE was sentenced to 15 years, 8 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. On November 14, 2008, a federal jury convicted CHASE after a three-day trial.

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: In February 2008, an undercover FBI agent was approached by CHASE in an online chat room devoted to the topic of sex with children. Over the next several days, CHASE told the agent he wished to engage in sexual activities with the agent’s fictitious 11 year-old daughter. They arranged to meet in the parking lot of the Mall of Georgia, where CHASE said he wished to sexually assault the child. He told the agent he would bring a sunshade and blanket to hide the three of them from prying eyes while they engaged in sexual activity in his truck. He also told the agent he would bring liquor he might give the child. When CHASE arrived at the Mall of Georgia, he was arrested. Agents found a blanket, a sunshade, and butterscotch schnapps, on ice, in his truck. When interviewed, CHASE told agents he might have gone through with the sexual assault of the child.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the FBI.

Assistant United States Attorney Francey Hakes prosecuted the case.

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