HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – A months-long investigation has led to a Chattanooga man being charged with multiple sex crimes.

According to a criminal complaint, Patrick Hawley, 42, of Lookout Mountain, was accused of telling an undercover agent on an app that he “wanted to have sexual contact with children” in April and explaining how to “you have the best” agent’s daughter.

Hawley, who court documents say worked as an attorney in Chattanooga, then told the agent to “check people,” which “refers to a place where a person would prove they are not law enforcement by sharing CSAM with o (chat)”. room moderator or to the whole room.”

In September, federal investigators obtained a video of Hawley sharing material in the “check” chat room before switching to another chat room and browsing other CSAMs, according to the criminal complaint.

Federal investigators then said in October that he shared 21 videos of CSAM. Later in the month, Hawley was contacted by an undercover FBI investigator who made plans to meet to “resolve this last hurdle of trust” and share CSAM, according to court documents.

In another case involving Hawley, the criminal complaint says the FBI received a tip in early November from a 14-year-old girl in Pennsylvania after she submitted an online tip and reported to a teacher that Hawley had exchanged sexual images and videos with her online. .

Hawley then showed up for a meeting with the undercover FBI investigator on Thursday, when he was arrested.

Hawley was charged federally with animal cruelty, child sexual exploitation, certain material activities involving the sexual exploitation of minors, and coercion and enticement.

Hawley’s arraignment is scheduled for Friday, November 22.

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