Court sentences Montana man to 27 years in prison for child exploitation crimes

A Montana man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for child exploitation crimes.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force.

Gary Lee Hodges, 72, of Bigfork, Montana would be subjected to 15 years of supervised release.

According to court documents, Hodges was sentenced for two counts of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.

The court documents also unveiled that Hodges contacted a woman in Beckley, West Virginia, on a social networking website dedicated to individuals interested in sexual fetishes.

Hodges learned that the woman had two daughters, ages 11 and 13. He expressed interest in coming to West Virginia to establish a household with the woman and children, where he would engage in sexual activity with both minor females.

“Specifically, Hodges stated that he planned to engage in sexual intercourse and oral sex on a regular basis with both minor females,” the documents revealed.

Statements obtained by the court also revealed that “During the next month, Hodges continued to make plans to travel to West Virginia to meet the woman and her daughters. To encourage the children to engage in sexual activity with him, Hodges sent them lingerie and other gifts and booked a trip to take them to Washington, D.C., to visit the zoo.

“Hodges reserved a hotel room in Beckley to meet the woman and the girls. He flew to Charleston on January 14, 2022, where he was arrested.”

The court found that Hodges planned to use the two children as “sex slaves” and called his criminal conduct “abominable.”