The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Ex-councilman gets 20 years for ‘grievous’ child porn acts

Igleheart got four teens to send graphic pics, filmed one in sex act.

- By Amanda C. Coyne Amanda.Coyne@ajc.com

Kent Igleheart met his four female victims online, posing as a 17-year-old boy.

He convinced the girls, ranging in age from 13 to 16, to send him graphic sexual photos and videos, according to federal prosecutor­s. Igleheart met up with one victim at a hotel, where he filmed her performing a sex act on him.

For those offenses, the 55-yearold former Roswell city councilman was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday. Igleheart pleaded guilty to six federal child pornograph­y charges in January, less than a month after he was indicted.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Moultrie gave Igleheart credit for submitting a quick guilty plea, preventing his four victims from being compelled to testify in court. In a Friday morning sentencing hearing, Moultrie noted that Igleheart showed “quick and early remorse” and had agreed to the 20-year sentence.

“I had a great life, and the actions I took threw that away,” Igleheart said during brief comments in federal court Friday.

Igleheart was first arrested in DeKalb County in October 2015. He had carried on a three-year online relationsh­ip with a girl starting when she was 14 years old, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office. Igleheart posed as a 17-year-old boy and asked the girl to send him sexually explicit photos, which she did. A federal investigat­ion

revealed three other victims.

Igleheart took full responsibi­lity for his actions in a brief statement before U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg. He apologized to his victims, who were not present, as well as his family, friends and former constituen­ts.

“This is a grievous offense,” Totenberg said while sentencing Igleheart. “It’s incomprehe­nsible at one level because you so invaded the lives of these girls and emblazoned a psychic trauma they will likely carry with them for their lives.”

Igleheart will serve his sentence at Federal Medical Center, Devens, in Massachuse­tts. The prison provides special mental health services for convicted sex offenders. He will be subject to 10 years of supervised release when he completes his sentence at age 75, and will be required to register as a sex offender.

“I normally conclude these hearings by telling people ‘good luck’ and ‘I hope you get your life together,’” Totenberg said, “but we’re not in that position. You really threw your life away.”

 ??  ?? Kent Igleheart, 55, will be sent to a special federal medical prison near Boston.
Kent Igleheart, 55, will be sent to a special federal medical prison near Boston.

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