Ronnie Lee McCall Convicted Of Sexual Exploitation Of Minors

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On Jan. 14, 2016, after a trial in U.S District Court, a jury convicted Ronnie Lee McCall, 60, of Limestone and Johnson City, Tenn., of four counts related to the sexual exploitation of three minor girls.  The convictions include: permitting a child in his custody and control to travel in interstate commerce to produce child pornography; production of child pornography; production of child pornography by a parent; and using a means of interstate commerce to induce a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity (child rape under Tennessee law). 

Sentencing has been set for June 6, 2016, before the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S District Court Judge.  McCall faces a mandatory minimum term of 30 years in prison. His wife, Connie Stout McCall, 40, who was charged with the same offenses, pleaded guilty in February 2014 to production of child pornography by a parent.  Both have been in federal custody since October 2013.

Nancy Stallard Harr, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, noted, "This prosecution underscores the importance of our partnership with local and state authorities, social service agencies, and others in protecting children, who are some of the most vulnerable members of our community.  While we cannot reclaim the children's lost childhoods or innocence, we will hold people who sexually victimize children accountable for their conduct."

The Tennessee Department of Child Services, Child Protective Services, Washington County Sheriff's Office, Johnson City Police Department, Washington County Child Advocacy Center, Youth Villages, a bail bondsman and Federal Bureau of Investigation worked together to ensure justice for the victims of Ronnie McCall.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Helen Smith and Corey Shipley represented the United States.

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 the Criminal Division's 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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