Douglas Gibson, 40, from Lebanon, Indiana, has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Committing a Felony Offense while Required to Register as a Sex Offender. Following his prison term, Gibson will also face a lifetime of supervised release.
Court documents state that between 2018 and 2021, Gibson accessed the home of Minor Victim 1, born in 2011. He installed hidden cameras in the child’s bedroom and bathroom shower drain to secretly record her while she was showering and changing clothes. The images and videos were saved on his laptop. In addition to these recordings, Gibson possessed and distributed other images and videos depicting unknown prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct through private chat rooms on social media platforms.
Gibson had previously been convicted for Sexual Misconduct of a Minor (Intercourse) in Boone County in 2010 and was required to register as a sex offender from at least September 2011 to September 2021.
“Simply put, Douglas Gibson is a danger to children,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “A child’s home should be a sanctuary of safety and love. Instead, this sick abuser took advantage of a child’s vulnerability to sexually exploit them and invade their safety and dignity. The sentence imposed here will ensure that our children are protected from this defendant for decades to come.”
“The exploitation of children is one of the most serious crimes we investigate. This sentence makes clear there are severe consequences for those who attempt to harm or exploit children,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
“The investigation symbolizes how collaborative efforts of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force alongside its local, state and federal partners create a powerful force that is more effective in protecting vulnerable populations than any single entity could be on its own,” stated an Indiana ICAC spokesperson.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation worked together with the Indiana ICAC Task Force—a coalition led by the Indiana State Police—and Boone County C.A.S.E. Task Force during the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Preston before U.S. District Judge James P. Hanlon.
This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation through cooperation among federal, state, and local agencies nationwide. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood.
Indiana’s ICAC Task Force investigates technology-related sexual crimes against children each year across hundreds of cases; it receives thousands of tips annually resulting in dozens of rescues.
