Thomas Goatley

Introduction

Thomas Goatley is a 23-year-old man from Umatilla, Oregon, sentenced to 87 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release for distributing child sexual abuse material and making harassing phone calls in which he falsely claimed to be sexually abusing children. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, which announced the sentence on November 10, 2026, Goatley used mainstream social media platforms to share abuse material while simultaneously placing anonymous hoax calls to schools, police departments, emergency dispatch centers, animal shelters and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He pleaded guilty in August 2026 to one count of distributing child pornography and four counts of making obscene or harassing telephone calls.

Background Information

According to court documents cited by federal prosecutors, from at least September 2023 through April 2024 Goatley used multiple online platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, Discord and X, to view, receive and distribute child sexual abuse material. When he was arrested in July 2024, investigators found approximately 50 images and 40 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children in his possession. Court records show the online activity ran alongside a separate pattern of anonymous harassing phone calls to schools, police departments, emergency dispatch centers, animal shelters and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, in which he falsely claimed to be sexually abusing a child.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

Convicted and sentenced. Goatley pleaded guilty to a five-count federal information and was sentenced to 87 months in prison, five years of supervised release, a $1,000 payment to NCMEC, a $500 special assessment and forfeiture of digital devices.

The case combined two strands of conduct documented in court records summarized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. The first was the distribution of child sexual abuse material: from at least September 2023 through April 2024, Goatley used Instagram, Facebook, Discord and X to view, receive and distribute the material, and investigators seized approximately 50 images and 40 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children when he was arrested in July 2024.

The second strand was a campaign of anonymous hoax calls. According to the release, Goatley made numerous anonymous harassing phone calls to schools, police departments, emergency dispatch centers, animal shelters and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, falsely claiming during the calls that he was sexually abusing a child and providing fabricated details about the alleged abuse. Among other incidents, he repeatedly contacted an elementary school in Helena, Montana, and falsely claimed to be abusing a student. He also called an elementary school in Newcastle, Wyoming, and falsely reported that he had abducted and was abusing a student; in response, schools in Newcastle were placed on lockdown while law enforcement officers from multiple agencies worked to locate the caller.

Goatley also contacted the Dearborn, Michigan, Police Department and falsely claimed to be abusing his 12-year-old daughter at a local hotel. Officers responded and determined the room he described did not exist. Between February 17 and April 8, 2024, he made 10 calls to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children falsely claiming to be abusing either his daughter or his sister, and during many of the calls he provided false identifying information.

On August 12, 2026, Goatley waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a five-count information charging one count of distributing child pornography and four counts of making obscene or harassing telephone calls. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the resulting sentence on November 10, 2026: 87 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release, along with an order to pay $1,000 to NCMEC, pay a $500 special assessment and forfeit the digital devices used in the offenses.

Public Reaction and Consequences

The sentence drew a statement from U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford, who said: “Individuals who distribute child sexual abuse material contribute to the ongoing exploitation of children, while false reports of child abuse divert critical law enforcement resources and create fear in communities.” He added: “This sentence holds the defendant accountable for both harms.”

The consequences imposed by the court were an 87-month prison term, five years of supervised release, a $1,000 payment to NCMEC, a $500 special assessment and forfeiture of digital devices used in the offenses. The hoax calls had already imposed costs of their own: schools in Newcastle, Wyoming, were placed on lockdown while officers from multiple agencies searched for the caller, Dearborn police responded to a hotel room that turned out not to exist, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received 10 fabricated abuse reports between February 17 and April 8, 2024. No public response was reported from Goatley.

Current Status

As of the November 10, 2026 announcement, Goatley had been sentenced to serve 87 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The judgment also requires him to pay $1,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and a $500 special assessment, and to forfeit the digital devices used in the offenses. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Mira Chernick, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Goatley waived indictment and pleaded guilty to all five counts, and the release described no further proceedings.

Impact on Their Career/Life

The sentencing removes Goatley, 23, from ordinary life for at least seven years: he will serve 87 months in federal prison and then remain under supervised release for five more, with his conduct subject to court supervision. The judgment adds a $1,000 payment to NCMEC, a $500 special assessment and the loss of the digital devices used in the offenses, and his plea leaves him convicted on five federal counts of distributing child pornography and making obscene or harassing telephone calls. The release described no occupation or employment history, so no workplace consequences were reported.

Sources

• “Umatilla Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Making Hoax Abuse Reports” source