A man who US authorities say chatted online with other men about their mutual desire to kidnap, rape, kill and eat children is facing a long prison sentence.
Prosecutors plan to ask for a 27-year prison term for Geoffrey Portway of Worcester, Massachusetts, when he is sentenced on Tuesday in federal court. Portway is a British citizen who has lived in the US most of his life.
Authorities say they found a dungeon, homemade coffin, butchering kit and other tools in the basement of Portway’s home.
In a sentencing memo filed in court, prosecutors say online chats recovered from Portway’s computer show he solicited people for help to kidnap a child with the intent of raping, killing and eating the child, reports news.com.au.
Prosecutors and Portway’s lawyer agreed to a sentencing range of 18 years to a little over 27 years in a plea agreement.
Portway’s lawyer, Richard Sweeney, said he plans to argue for a sentence at the low end of the range. He argues that no one was touched or photographed by Portway.
“It is important to note, the defendant never engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor. There is no evidence that the defendant ever acted out any of his fantasies,” Sweeney wrote in a sentencing memo.
But prosecutors say Portway, 40, appeared to be serious.
“In the chats, Portway becomes tired of people engaged in role play or fantasy, telling no less than 15 chat partners he is serious about wanting to kill and eat a child,” Assistant US Attorney Stacy Dawson Belf wrote in a sentencing memo.
Portway was among dozens of people arrested in an international child porn investigation.