A man from Clay County has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for crimes related to child pornography, as announced by U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.
Michael James Baker, aged 32 and residing in Ashland, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Cory L. Maze to 960 months of imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Baker pleaded guilty in October 2024 to two counts of production of child pornography and one count of transportation of child pornography. His convictions require him to register 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 created a video and an image involving the rape of a small child, which he then uploaded online. In conversations with an undercover agent, Baker expressed intentions to engage sexually with two other children and admitted sexual acts with a 13-year-old. Following his arrest on federal charges, another young child reported being raped by Baker.
The case involved investigations by multiple law enforcement agencies including the FBI Birmingham Division, FBI New Orleans Division, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Internet Crimes Against Children, 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 suspecting or aware of potential child sexual exploitation to contact law enforcement immediately. The FBI Birmingham Office can be reached at 205-326-6166 for reports or tips can be submitted online via the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.cybertipline.org.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood initiated by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide through collaboration among federal, state, and local resources.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.