An Athens man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually exploiting a child, following an investigation under Project Safe Childhood. Chris Adam Valentine, aged 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. "Tripp" Self, III on December 10. In addition to the prison term, Valentine will undergo a lifetime of supervised release and pay $90,000 in restitution. He will also be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison.
Valentine had previously pleaded guilty on May 28 to one count of sexual exploitation of a child. The federal system does not allow parole.
"Our office is determined to identify and remove child predators from our communities and hold them fully accountable for their heinous crimes," stated U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. "Protecting the most vulnerable citizens from harm is a priority for law enforcement at every level."
Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta, which covers Georgia and Alabama, remarked on the collaborative effort: "Thanks to the diligent efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and its law enforcement partners, this predator will now spend three decades behind bars for his appalling actions." He added that the investigation highlights their commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and pursuing justice against those who exploit children.
Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters emphasized the importance of cooperation among various agencies: "Cases like these exemplify the value of partnerships between local, state and federal agencies." He affirmed that such crimes would not be tolerated in their community.
According to court documents, Valentine admitted using his cell phone between January 1 and December 31, 2022, to film a seven-year-old child engaged in sexual conduct with an adult male.
The case was part of Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006—to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. This initiative coordinates federal, state, and local resources to apprehend individuals who exploit children while identifying and rescuing victims.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) along with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Peach prosecuted the case for the government.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.