A Clay County resident has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for producing child pornography, as announced by U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.
U.S. District Court Judge Cory L. Maze handed down the sentence to Michael James Baker, 32, of Ashland. In October 2024, Baker pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography and one count of transportation of child pornography. These convictions necessitate his registration as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
Court documents reveal that between July 25, 2022, and July 25, 2023, Baker produced a video and an image involving the rape of a small child and distributed them online. During communication with an undercover agent, Baker expressed interest in engaging in sexual acts with two other children and admitted to such acts with a 13-year-old child. Following his arrest on federal charges related to child pornography, another young victim reported being raped by Baker.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the FBI Birmingham Division, FBI New Orleans Division, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, Lineville Police Department, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Oxford Police Department, Anniston Major Crimes Unit, Anniston Police Department, Alabama State Troopers, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and Russell County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.
Authorities urge anyone who suspects or becomes aware of potential sexual exploitation of a child to contact law enforcement immediately. The FBI Birmingham Office can be reached at 205-326-6166; reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or through www.cybertipline.org.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. This initiative involves collaboration among federal, state, and local resources to apprehend offenders exploiting children via the internet while identifying and rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood is available at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
