Executive Summary
- Hunter Chase Eubanks, a former worship leader at Morningside Church in Tallahassee, pleaded guilty in federal court to sexual exploitation of a child.
- Eubanks engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor from the church, which occurred on multiple occasions, and requested the minor produce child pornography.
- He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for November 24, 2025.
Laws and Precedent
- The legal precedent for a case like Hunter Eubanks’ falls under federal law, specifically 18 U.S. Code § 2251, which criminalizes the sexual exploitation of a child. This law makes it a federal crime to persuade, entice, or coerce a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images or other visual depictions.
- Violations of this law carry severe penalties. As outlined in the statute, a convicted individual faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, with a maximum of up to 30 years. The law also mandates a period of supervised release upon completion of the prison term. The fact that Eubanks’ actions involved the use of an iPhone application falls under the federal jurisdiction of “affecting interstate commerce,” which allows for federal prosecution of the case.
A former worship leader from a Tallahassee church, Hunter Chase Eubanks, 31, pleaded guilty in federal court to sexual exploitation of a child. The plea was announced by United States Attorney John P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida, following an investigation into a sexual relationship Eubanks had with a minor from Morningside Church between July and October 2024.
Details of the Case
Court documents reveal that Eubanks, who also led a church music internship program at Morningside Church, engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor attendee. This activity occurred on multiple occasions both at the church and at other locations in Tallahassee. During their communications via an iPhone application, Eubanks requested the minor produce and send him images that would constitute child pornography.
Investigation and Prosecution
The Leon County Sheriff’s Office initiated a criminal investigation in October 2024 after receiving a report about the illicit relationship. The case involved a joint effort with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, leading to Eubanks’ federal prosecution.
United States Attorney Heekin emphasized the commitment to protecting children from exploitation. “Thanks to the excellent investigative work of our local and federal law enforcement partners, this offender has been brought to justice for victimizing a vulnerable child,” Heekin stated. He added that his office would “not hesitate to aggressively pursue prosecutions of these crimes to keep our children safe from sexual exploitation by predators like this defendant.”
Sentencing and Legal Outlook
Eubanks now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, with a maximum of 30 years. Upon release, he will be subject to a period of supervised release ranging from five years to life. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida. Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor will preside over the sentencing.
This guilty plea underscores the serious legal consequences for individuals who exploit vulnerable children, particularly those in positions of trust. Federal authorities and local law enforcement continue to collaborate in their efforts to identify and prosecute such offenses, aiming to ensure the safety and protection of minors within the community.
