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Steven Bickling, 48, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor on Thursday, March 17, according to the US Attorney’s Office for Maryland. Bickling faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison, followed by up to a lifetime of parole.
Over the course of their investigation, authorities uncovered 21 images and 50 videos obtained by Bickling depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct. These often included prepubescent minors between the ages of five and 12.
This all began in 2018 when Bickling started visiting a website with live chat rooms featuring Asian woman, the office reports. Bickling heard children in the background during one exchange and offered $50 to the female performer to show her daughter nude on screen. The woman agreed and Bickling proceeded to masturbate to the young girl.
Bickling estimated to have done this between 12 and 15 times in two years, the office reports. There was even one instance where Bickling claimed to have masturbated during a video live chat involving an eight- or nine-year-old while Bickling was drunk.
Investigators also obtained numerous email conversations regarding Bickling’s actions. For example, Bickling once wrote “I like to rape young girls. Is that ok with you?” in an email sent on May 7, 2019. The same day he sent another message stating, “I watch a lot of child prn…like when they cry.”
In addition, Bickling reportedly paid for access to a restricted child pornography website. He also solicited live video sessions of adult male relatives having sexual relations with their younger sisters or nieces also dating back to 2018, the office reports.
Bickling’s sentencing date has been scheduled for August 10, 2022 at 10 a.m.
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