Mobile, AL (BuzzReport) – In a disturbing case highlighting the dangers of online interactions, a 25-year-old man from Daphne has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the sexual abuse of a teenage girl, including the creation of video recordings of the acts.
Forrest Sanford entered his plea in U.S. District Court on Wednesday, admitting to the transportation of a minor for sexual purposes. The gravity of his actions could result in a prison sentence ranging from 10 years to life, with prosecutors indicating they will recommend a term at the mid-range of the advisory sentencing guidelines. The final decision will rest with the presiding judge.
The investigation into Sanford’s activities began following a cyber tip received in December 2023. According to court documents, Sanford had boasted about acquiring explicit images of a 16-year-old girl through the social media platform Snapchat, an alarming testament to the potential for digital platforms to facilitate predatory behavior.
Further complicating the case, Sanford acknowledged that he had a seven-month sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl in Mississippi during 2021. He confessed to sneaking into her bedroom through a window to engage in sexual acts, as well as meeting her in the parking lots of various locations, including a sporting goods store and a restaurant in D’Iberville.
The plea agreement also revealed that Sanford brought the minor to his parents’ home in Alabama, where the abuse continued while his parents were away. Disturbingly, Sanford admitted to recording a video of their encounters, though he claimed to have deleted it after they viewed it together. Nevertheless, investigators uncovered multiple explicit images of the girl stored on his electronic devices.
Sanford is scheduled for sentencing on April 28, a date that will determine the consequences of his actions and serve as a reminder of the imperative to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.