Christian Baumgarth, a former teacher at First Presbyterian Day School and volunteer youth ministry leader at Northway Church, pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in federal court.
Baumgarth, 27, admitted to having images and videos of child abuse on his devices, which were discovered during a search of his Macon home by federal agents.
He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Upon his release, he will also be required to register as a sex offender.
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The news of Baumgarth’s guilty plea has sent shockwaves through the local community, particularly among the families he interacted with as a teacher and youth leader. The school and church terminated their relationships with Baumgarth after learning of the investigation.
Parents and community members are grappling with feelings of betrayal and concern for the well-being of children who may have been exposed to Baumgarth’s harmful actions. The case is a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need for open communication between children and trusted adults.
Law enforcement officials have praised the cooperation between federal, state, and local authorities in bringing this case to justice.
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“Sadly, those who perpetuate the online abuse of children can sometimes be found hiding in plain sight and interacting with children,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office and law enforcement at every level are working tirelessly to protect children from predators, and I commend the investigative work done in this case.”
“Those who view and distribute child sexual abuse material perpetuate the victimization of the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Anthony J. Patrone, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta that oversees Georgia and Alabama. “Those in positions of public trust are held to a higher standard as guardians of the innocent and HSI Atlanta, with our law enforcement partners, will continue to seek justice for these victims by pursuing and holding accountable the predators dealing in this material.”
Sentencing for Baumgarth is scheduled for October 9th.
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