FL man who convinced babysitter to send explicit photos of kids sentenced to 16 years

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A former defense contractor at MacDill Air Force Base was sentenced to 16 years in prison Tuesday for manipulating a babysitter into sending explicit pictures of two toddlers.

James Bechtold pled guilty earlier this year to 14 counts of possession of child pornography, along with charges for the production of child porn and online solicitation of a minor.

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His plea came after investigators found several explicit photos and videos of children on his electronics, Attorney General Ashley Moody's office said.

Some of the photos included images he had received from a babysitter in Colorado.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) said agents first became aware of Bechtold's actions in March after being alerted by the Colorado State Police.

It was around that time that Bechtold began a relationship with a Colorado woman on an online dating platform called FetLife. Officials said he was using the alias "Daddy_Red_Oak."

As their relationship quickly progressed, detectives said the couple switched to Snapchat for communication, with the woman eventually sharing that she babysat three children six days a week.

Bechtold then began asking for pictures of the two young girl's "private areas." Investigators said his requests turned into demands, and he soon began making threats against the babysitter.

Once they learned of the situation, agents said they were able to use pictures and other information from the babysitter to access Bechtold's accounts and trace his location to Valrico.

A subsequent search of Bechtold's residence provided the FDLE with enough evidence to make an arrest and file charges.

The babysitter was also arrested by Colorado authorities and charged with sexual exploitation of a child.

Bechtold will be on a seven-year probationary period after his 16 years in prison are up. He will also remain a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.