A 35-year-old College Station man has plead guilty to coercion and enticement as well as receipt and possession of child pornography after asking for sexually explicit photos from a law enforcement officer posing as the stepfather of a 9-year-old girl.
Authorities say Ryan Dale McWhorter had been in a chat group dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children. In the group, he began communicating with someone he believed to be the stepfather of a 9-year-old girl. McWhorter expressed his sexual interest in the child and asked for naked photos of her, to include her genitals. He also asked the girl to take a picture of herself touching her stepfather's penis.
The "stepfather" was actually an undercover law enforcement officer.
McWhorter also discussed his intentions to travel to Florida in order to have sex with the child.
He eventually admitted to the sexual communications. Law enforcement also seized his cellphone. Forensic analysis of the device revealed 40 images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, which included children under the age of 5.
Authorities also discovered another chat, during which he received a video of child pornography and saved it to the photo gallery on his phone.
McWhorter has been in custody since he was found to be a flight risk and a danger to the community. He will remain there pending his sentencing, which is set for November 16 before U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes.
McWhorter faces up to life in prison for the coercion and enticement conviction, while the receipt and possession of child pornography charges carry additional penalties up to 20 and 10 years, respectively. He could also be ordered to pay a $250,000 fine.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI - Bryan Resident Agency and Jacksonville, Florida, Field Office. Assistant U.S, Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.