LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Tenn. — A man from Lookout Mountain, who prosecutors said worked as a lawyer in Chattanooga, is facing child sex crime charges after authorities said he solicited and distributed child sexual abuse material online.
Patrick Bryant Hawley is accused of telling a person on an application that he wanted to "have sexual contact with children." In April 2024, he told an undercover agent that he wanted to meet the agent's young daughter and talked about how he would "groom" her.
He then admitted to the agent that he was "vetting people" for an online chat room that would have catered to people seeking child sexual abuse material. He is also accused of sharing child sexual abuse material online in September, on a different chat room that contained the word "vetting."
"In the world of online undercover investigations, (vetting) usually refers to a place where a person would prove they are not law enforcement by sharing CSAM with a room moderator or to the entire room," the complaint said.
Federal investigators in Albany, New York, said they received a video of Hawley sharing the material in the "vetting" chat room and then switching to another chat room where he began browsing other child sexual abuse material. The complaint said he commented on a video as well.
An undercover employee with the investigators said in October that he had distributed 21 videos.
Another undercover federal agent in Tennessee said he was in contact with Hawley that month, and the two began arranging plans to meet in person to build trust and share child sexual abuse material. They planned to meet on Nov. 14, when Hawley was arrested.
Separately, prosecutors said a minor told her Pennsylvania teacher that Hawley had exchanged sexual images and videos with her online. She said their conversations began in September, but the minor said their relationship ended recently which prompted her to reach out.
Hawley faces charges of animal crushing, related to separate videos involving acts that killed mice, as well as charges for sexually exploiting children, distributing child pornography, coercion and enticement.
