Leigha Simonton, United States Attorney, Northern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas
An 80-year-old man from Richardson has been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for sexually abusing a seven-year-old child. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Chad E. Meacham.
George Kenneth Orton, Jr., was found guilty on two counts of sexual exploitation of a child by a jury in October 2024. During the trial, evidence showed that law enforcement agents discovered a USB drive and two laptops containing child sexual abuse material at his residence.
On May 14, 2025, Orton faced District Judge Brantley Starr for sentencing. Judge Starr imposed consecutive maximum sentences of 360 months on each count, totaling 720 months in federal prison. In delivering the sentence, Judge Starr referred to Orton's actions against Minor Victim 1 as "unspeakable" and saw no reason to reduce the statutory maximum sentence despite Orton's age.
"The FBI is proud to collaborate with our law enforcement partners every single day to ensure anyone involved in criminal behavior against a child is brought to justice. The significant sentence given to the defendant sends a clear message that crimes against children will not be tolerated," stated FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. "Together, through continued vigilance and cooperation, we can prevent abuse and protect the most vulnerable among us."
Acting U.S. Attorney Meacham commended the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and the Richardson Police Department for their role in investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marissa Aulbaugh and Brandie Wade were responsible for prosecuting.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates resources at federal, state, and local levels to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children while also identifying and rescuing victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood or internet safety education resources, visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
