According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of North Carolina, 41-year-old Andrew Eric Childs was sentenced to 216 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $24,800 in restitution to victims.
Federal prosecutors said Childs pleaded guilty on April 7, 2026, to one count of distributing child sexual abuse material and one count related to the production of an animal crush video.
Court records show Childs possessed and distributed child sexual abuse material and produced a video depicting the sexual abuse of a dog.
At the time of his arrest, Childs worked for Durham Emergency Medical Services. Authorities said the crimes were not connected to his employment.
The case was investigated by the FBI Charlotte Field Office's Raleigh Resident Agency and the Durham Police Department, with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Federal officials said the prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse and identifying victims.
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