Radcliff Man Charged with Violating Federal Child Sexual Exploitation Laws

LOUISVILLE, KY—A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned a two-count indictment against a Radcliff man for violating federal child sexual exploitation laws announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.

Paul Herman Hales, age 54, is accused of knowingly engaging in a sexual act with a child under the age of 12 while on Fort Knox Military Base. He is also charged with possession of child pornography. Hales worked as a civilian on the military base.

According to an affidavit in support of a federal criminal complaint by a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, law enforcement officials interviewed Hales on June 22, 2011. Hales allegedly admitted to engaging in sexual activities with a 9-year-old female child. The sexual abuse occurred from approximately November 2010, through June 2011. Law enforcement officials arrested Hales at the end of the interview on state charges of sexual abuse, first degree, (victim under 12 years of age), and sodomy, first degree. A further investigation revealed that Hales had taken the child onto Fort Knox Military Base where several instances of sexual activity occurred.

Law enforcement officials executed a search warrant and seized numerous computer diskettes and other computer equipment. The computer diskettes contained thousands of still images and hundreds of movie files. Many contained child pornography. Several depicted children who had previously been identified in investigations and prosecutions outside the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

If convicted, Hales faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison. He faces maximum potential penalties of life imprisonment, a $500,000.00 fine, and supervised release of at least five years and it could be any term of years including life.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless and Special Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Browell. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Radcliff Police Department conducted the investigation.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Projectsafechildhood.gov/.