McAllen man sentenced to 33 years for coercing minors, filming child porn

A 29-year-old McAllen man has been sentenced for enticing a minor and producing child sexual abuse material in 2023, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

Christian Allen Hanks was charged with coercion or enticement of a minor and production of child pornography and pleaded guilty on Oct. 15 after it was discovered he recorded himself sexually abusing a 15-year-old minor.

Hanks was sentenced to over 33 years in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release.

On April 27, 2023, Homeland Security Investigations-led Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Investigation Task Force members retrieved a 22-second-long video in a forensic extraction of Hanks’ iPhone, according to the criminal complaint.

In the video, Hanks is seen extending his right arm, staring into his iPhone and filming himself engaging in sexual intercourse with the 15-year-old minor who is completely nude.

“The investigation revealed years of communication between himself and the minor regarding further sexual abuse, and requests to abuse the minor and other minor children,” the release said.

In addition, it was discovered that Hanks had engaged in grooming behavior with another minor in Louisiana enticing her to engage in sexual conduct with him. It was later revealed they did engage in sexual intercourse with the second minor.

During the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez indicated that Hanks’ behavior was consistent with that of a sexual predator.

“As the court found, the defendant’s behavior in this case was particularly abhorrent, and deserving of a significant sentence,” U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei said in the release.

Hanks will remain in custody pending his transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility which will be determined later.

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