A 54-year-old Indianapolis man has been sentenced to 340 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child he was babysitting.
According to court documents, the victim was a twelve-year-old boy living with his mother in Indianapolis.
In the spring of 2023, Ronald May, 54, and the child’s mother worked at the same company.
Read: U.S. Attorney In Oklahoma Cracking Down On Child Predators ‘Operation Clean Sweep II’
The mother was a store manager, and her duties occasionally required her to work overnight shifts. May volunteered to babysit her son while she was at work overnight.
Beginning on March 5, 2023, and continuing until April 28, 2023, May purchased items for the child, “wrestled” with him, required him to sleep in May’s bed together nude, showed the boy adult pornography, and discussed sexual activity with the child.
Individuals with a sexual interest in children engage in these behaviors, often referred to as “grooming,” to build trusting relationships with potential victims and lower their defenses to sexual exploitation by adults.
Authorities say May sexually assaulted the boy during the forced “wrestling” sessions. May also used his cellphone to take at least 39 sexually explicit images of the child.
On April 23, 2023, the mother discovered the abuse and reported May to police. After the police searched his home, May began to harass the mother by constantly calling and sending her text messages.
May also drove by the mother’s home after the search and sent threatening messages including, “u can’t hide I know where u live.”
Read: Sheriff Grady Judd Says Squatters Will Get A “One-Way Ride” To Jail In Florida
“This criminal’s actions are every parent’s nightmare. Every day, children are horrifically abused by predators like this defendant, who work insidiously to build trust—while hiding the worst of intentions,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The exploitation of our children is utterly unacceptable in a civilized society, and pedophiles like this one will be held accountable for their crimes. Thanks to the hard work of investigators and prosecutors, this man will never harm another child.”
The U.S. Secret Service and IMPD investigated this case. Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt imposed the sentence. Chief Judge Pratt ordered that May be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years following his release from federal prison and pay $10,000 in restitution to the child victim.
Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.