A former basketball coach in Gainesville, Florida, Billy McCall, Jr., has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to producing child pornography. The sentence was handed down due to the heinous nature of the crimes committed against children, particularly by someone in a position of trust.
The investigation began in July 2022 when a 15-year-old student at Bronson Middle/High School reported inappropriate touching and solicitation of explicit videos by McCall, his basketball coach. Further investigation uncovered two more child victims, all members of the team McCall coached.
Following his arrest on state charges, a search of McCall’s phone revealed numerous videos depicting nude male child victims engaged in sexual conduct, some involving McCall himself.
“The betrayal of trust by a coach, who is meant to guide and protect the children in his care, highlights the darkest side of humanity and warrants the toughest accountability,” said Homeland Security Investigation Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “Those who exploit the innocence of our youth not only commit an unthinkable act but also perpetuate a life-long cycle of suffering. We stand united with our law enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served, and that we protect the vulnerable from those who seek to harm them.”
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McCall’s sentence includes a lifetime of supervised release and registration as a sex offender. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the device used to store the illicit material. This federal sentence will run concurrently with a 20-year state prison sentence related to his previous arrest.
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