Indianapolis man sentenced to 44 years in prison for child abuse on Snapchat

An Indianapolis man previously convicted of possession of child pornography has been sentenced to 44 years in federal prison, where he will face consequences for his actions in exploiting a minor through the social media platform Snapchat. The man, identified as Sonny Dale Applegate, 27, was already a registered sex offender and on probation at the time of the offense, FOX59 reported.

Applegate inappropriately communicated with an 11-year-old from Missouri, engaged in sexually explicit conversations, and coerced the child into taking and sending explicit images and videos between August 1 and September 12, 2022. He has now been charged with these activities. His history of sexual misconduct has been exacerbated by the seriousness of these crimes and has resulted in a stiff sentence that includes lifetime court supervision upon release, as reported by WRTV.

A U.S. district judge sentenced Applegate to 44 years after he pleaded guilty to two counts of child sexual exploitation and one count requiring sex offender registration. The harsh sentence reflects his violation of the public trust, especially since he was on probation for a 2020 child pornography conviction that itself resulted in a mostly suspended four-year sentence. His repeated offenses led the justice system to impose a harsh sentence, as reported by WTHR.

Applegate’s sentencing highlights the dangers of technology and predatory behavior, and the need for vigilance in digital spaces where children interact. It shows that supervision and probation alone cannot always stop predatory intent, as some individuals continue to abuse despite intervention.