An Abilene man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for sexually abusing a four-year-old child. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Chad Meacham, announced the sentencing.
Victor Van Taylor, aged 31, was charged via criminal complaint in June 2024 and indicted the following month. In September 2024, he pleaded guilty to production of child pornography. U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix delivered the sentence on Tuesday. Taylor will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Plea documents revealed that law enforcement discovered a 26-second video depicting an adult male abusing a four-year-old child on the dark web in June 2024. The individual was identified as Mr. Taylor.
During a search of his residence, officers presented Mr. Taylor with a screengrab from the video and questioned him about its production. He admitted to creating and posting it online in exchange for other child sexual abuse material.
The victim was identified as the son of Mr. Taylor's friend, with his mother indicating that the assault likely occurred while Mr. Taylor was babysitting her child.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Dallas Field Office, while prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas – Abilene Division.