Daniel R. McCaffrey, a former resident of Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for crimes involving child pornography and abusive sexual contact with a minor under the age of 12. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“There is no penalty severe enough for those who harm our children, and my office will continue to aggressively pursue maximum punishment for these types of crimes,” stated U.S. Attorney Heekin. He noted that McCaffrey not only victimized children online but also sexually abused a child at Eglin Air Force Base. He praised the work of various law enforcement agencies involved in bringing McCaffrey to justice.
A jury found McCaffrey guilty after a federal trial where evidence showed he kept a collection of child pornography on a hidden micro SD card in his home. His wife was an active duty member of the United States Air Force during this time. Witnesses testified about the abuse inflicted by McCaffrey on the minor female he had access to.
“The FBI is committed to protecting the most vulnerable individuals in our communities, and especially our kids,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “Those who abuse innocent children should know that the FBI and our partners will never stop working to identify you.”
Following his imprisonment, McCaffrey will face lifetime supervised release and must register as a sex offender permanently.
The case was investigated by several agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts across federal, state, and local levels.
For further details about Project Safe Childhood or related information from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit their respective websites.
