NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A convicted sex offender was sentenced on Thursday for child pornography.
Eric Alan Starling, 45, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for receipt of child pornography.
According to court documents, on Feb. 12, 2022, a person contacted Newport News Police to report sexually inappropriate messages on Snapchat between Starling and a minor
On March 8 of that year, an FBI task force officer contacted Starling's probation officer and confirmed his identity and status as a registered sex offender.
After searching Starling's Snapchat account, officials found that Starling was having sexually inappropriate chats in which he openly admitted to being a sex offender and telling the minor how this could be a problem because of their ages.
Starling also had conversations with an underage individual that included talking about having sex with that individual and sending sexually inappropriate photos of himself.
On June 28, 2023, a federal search warrant was executed on Starling’s residence. Nine electronic devices were seized. After his arrest, Starling admitted that he had “all kinds” of pornography. Forensic analysis of his devices showed images of child sex abuse material.
In 2006, Starling was found guilty of using a computer to solicit a minor. In 2009, Starling was found guilty of aggravated sexual battery of a child, taking indecent liberties with children, and sexually explicit material with a minor.
