Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
A Jacksonville man and registered child sex offender, Matthew Eric Baumgardner, 49, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to using the internet to access child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Baumgardner faces a minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in federal prison, along with a potential lifetime term of supervised release, following his arrest on federal charges on July 28, 2025.
Case Details and Investigation
According to court documents, law enforcement was alerted by a social messaging application company about CSAM files being uploaded through its platform between May 6 and June 5, 2024. An investigation traced these uploads to an account linked to Baumgardner.
In April 2025, an arrest warrant was issued for Baumgardner due to a violation of his sex offender probation. A detective with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office subsequently interviewed Baumgardner, during which he admitted that the email address and phone number associated with the CSAM uploads were his. He also confessed to having used the app previously and accessing visual depictions of child sexual abuse, stating he did not personally know any of the victims.
A forensic examination of Baumgardner’s cellphone later revealed at least 67 photos depicting young children being sexually abused. These images included instances of sadistic sexual abuse and bondage.
Prior Convictions and Sentencing
Baumgardner is a registered child sex offender with a history of similar offenses. In 2017, he was convicted of possessing photographs depicting the sexual performance by a child, traveling to meet a minor for unlawful activity, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the guilty plea. Baumgardner’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 12, 2025. This case was a joint investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
Combating Child Exploitation
This case underscores the ongoing efforts by federal and local law enforcement agencies to combat the online exploitation of children. Authorities continue to collaborate with technology companies to identify and prosecute individuals involved in the production and dissemination of child sexual abuse materials.
