GREENSBORO, N.C. – Andrew Eric Childs, age 41, of Apex, North Carolina, was sentenced today to 216 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for distribution of child sexual abuse material (one count) and production of an “animal crush” video (one count). Childs was also ordered to pay $24,800 in restitution to the victims. He pleaded guilty to the charges on April 7, 2026.According to court records, the defendant possessed and distributed child sexual abuse material and produced a video depicting his sexual abuse of a dog. Childs worked for Durham Emergency Medical Services at the time of his arrest, though the crimes were not connected to his employment.Dan Bishop, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, made the announcement.The case was investigated by the FBI Charlotte Field Office, Raleigh Resident Agency and the Durham Police Department with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.Assistant United States Attorney Karla Painter for the Middle District of North Carolina prosecuted the case.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.
Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.###