Tallahassee Sun

Billy McCall, Jr., 41, of Gainesville, Florida, has been sentenced to 480 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to three counts of production of child pornography. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Crimes against children are among the most heinous types of offenses and deserving of the most significant sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “The sexual abuse of children – here by a trusted educator – robs them of their innocence and results in devastating psychological pain. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and vigorously prosecute those who seek to harm our most vulnerable.”

In July 2022, the Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) received a report from a 15-year-old boy who was a student at Bronson Middle/High School in Bronson, Florida. The child reported that McCall, his basketball coach, had inappropriately touched him and solicited explicit videos from him. Further investigation led to interviews with two other victims who were also members of the Bronson basketball team coached by McCall.

On July 27, 2022, McCall was arrested by LCSO on state charges related to lewd and lascivious molestation. During the arrest, law enforcement seized a cellular phone from McCall which was later examined. This examination revealed numerous videos recorded at McCall's house using a camera installed in the bathroom. These videos depicted nude male child victims engaged in sexual conduct; at least one video included McCall personally engaged in sexual contact with a child.

“The betrayal of trust by a coach, who is meant to guide and protect the children in his care, highlights the darkest side of humanity and warrants the toughest accountability,” said Homeland Security Investigation Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “Those who exploit the innocence of our youth not only commit an unthinkable act but also perpetuate a life-long cycle of suffering. We stand united with our law enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served and that we protect the vulnerable from those who seek to harm them.”

McCall’s prison sentence will be followed by lifetime supervised release; he will be required to register as a sex offender and adhere to all related conditions. The court also ordered forfeiture of an electronic device used for storing child pornography produced by McCall. His federal sentence will run concurrent with a twenty-year state prison sentence imposed for charges related to his July 27 arrest.

This conviction resulted from an investigation conducted jointly by LCSO and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Williams and David Byron prosecuted the case.

This case was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood or public court documents online regarding this case or others within its jurisdiction, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov or http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html respectively.