Former Georgia teacher sentenced for possessing child sex abuse material

MACON – A former central Georgia teacher, coach and volunteer youth ministry leader who admitted to possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has been sentenced to serve six years in federal prison for his crime.

Christian Baumgarth, 28, of Atlanta, was sentenced to serve 72 months in prison to be followed by 25 years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell. In addition, he will have to register as a sex offender upon release from prison. Baumgarth pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography on July 8. There is no parole in the federal system.

“People who possess photos and videos of child sexual abuse material perpetuate the victimization of vulnerable children,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said. “Working alongside law enforcement and child advocacy groups, we will root out predators involved in the online sexual exploitation of children and hold them accountable for their crimes.”

“In his role as a teacher, volunteer and coach, Mr. Baumgarth held positions of trust in the community while simultaneously exploiting the innocence of children behind closed doors,” Steven N. Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta, which covers Georgia and Alabama, said. “HSI will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to identify, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit the most vulnerable among us.”

According to court documents and statements referenced in court, federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations were investigating people using encrypted applications to distribute CSAM during the summer of 2023. Baumgarth was identified; at the time, he was a teacher and a coach at First Presbyterian Day School in Macon, a position he held from 2018-2023. Additionally, he was a volunteer small group leader in the student ministry at Northway Church in Macon from 2019-2023.

On Aug. 1, 2023, agents executed a federal search warrant at Baumgarth’s residence in Macon, seizing numerous electronic devices. Agents notified FPD about the execution of the search warrant, and Baumgarth’s employment was terminated. Two of Baumgarth’s iPhones were forensically examined and found to contain 20 images and 13 videos of CSAM, including some that depicted the sexual abuse or exploitation of an infant or toddler. Baumgarth was interviewed by law enforcement and admitted to the conduct.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or online at https://report.cybertip.org. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the FBI. Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes prosecuted the case for the government.

Special Illustration: Metro Creative