Tuscaloosa Man Gets 10 Years in Prison for Coercing and Inducing Child to Engage in Sexual Activity

BIRMINGHAM -- A federal judge today sentenced a Tuscaloosa man to 10 years in prison for sending cell phone texts to a minor child over nearly two years to coerce or induce her to engage in sexual activity, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, FBI Special Agent in Charge Roger C. Stanton and Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy.

            U.S. District Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins sentenced EARL WAYNE BABIN, 49, on one count of coercion and enticement. Babin pleaded guilty to the charge in July. As part of a plea agreement, government prosecutors recommended a 10-year prison sentence. Babin already is in custody. Once he completes his prison sentence, he must remain on supervised release for 15 years, according to the judge's order.

            Babin admitted in his guilty plea that he had used hidden cameras and provided provocative lingerie for the child, then sent text messages urging her to try on the inappropriate undergarments so he could produce visual images. He conducted the exploitation between July 2012 and March 2014, when the child was less than 16 years old.

            Babin admitted that he engaged in illegal sexual activity with the child and produced images of child pornography that involved her, according court documents.

            The FBI and the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn M. Hutzell prosecuted.