A Carpinteria man was sentenced this week by a federal judge to just over 20 years in jail for distributing child pornography.
Christopher Robin Coates was charged in 2016 by a federal grand jury with producing, receiving, distributing and possessing child pornography while on probation.
Federal authorities say Coates "met minors in online chat rooms dedicated to youths seeking father figures and manipulated them into sending him child pornography images of themselves. According to court records, Coates would also share the minors’ online ‘handles’ with other persons seeking to exploit children."
Prosecutors say, on July 15, 2015, officers conducted a parole search of Coates’ residence and discovered a Samsung tablet under a mattress that contained hundreds of images and videos of child pornography.
During the search, authorities reportedly found more than 1,000 pictures and more than 125 videos depicting child pornography on Coates’ digital devices.
State charges related to child exploitation crimes were dropped by Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley when the federal indictment involving Coates was filed.
Coates was convicted in the Santa Barbara Superior Court back in 2011 and 2013 on similar charges. He was additionally charged with the sexual battery of a disabled adult in 2010.
Original story:
Carpinteria man pleads not guilty to child pornography charges
Christopher Robin Coates
