Former Russell County Teacher, Guilty Of Sexual Exploitation Of Children

Criminal activity took place during a two-year period

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Russell County, Kentucky, resident and former teacher, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court, before District Judge Greg N. Stivers, to a single charge of sexual exploitation of children, announced United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.

According to the factual basis of the plea agreement, Jeffrey McGaha, 49, of Russell Springs, Kentucky, admitted to attempting to receive materials that contained child pornography between September 23, 2012, and September 5, 2014. McGaha used a cellular telephone and various social media applications to communicate with an individual in an attempt to obtain the materials. The materials depicted a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. McGaha engaged in this conduct while in Russell County, Kentucky and other places.

McGaha was taken in to federal custody. He is scheduled for sentencing in Bowling Green, on July 18, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Stivers.

If the Court accepts the Plea Agreement, McGaha will be sentenced to five years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender. He will also face at least five years of Supervised Release and it could be up to life of Supervised Release.

Assistant United States Jo E. Lawless is prosecuting the case. The Russell Springs Police Department conducted the investigation.

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This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab resources."