A federal judge in Florida sentenced a convicted sex offender, Samuel Arthur Thompson, to 220 years in federal prison for producing, receiving, and possessing child sex abuse material. Thompson, 53, was also sentenced for hacking the jumbotron in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ stadium after his contract was not renewed upon the team’s discovery of his status as a registered sex offender. Thompson was previously convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in Alabama in 1998, requiring him to register as a sex offender.
Thompson was hired by the Jaguars in 2013 to help design and install the stadium’s main screen and was responsible for running it on game days. Despite his contract with the Jaguars requiring him to report his sex offender conviction, Thompson failed to do so. After the team learned of his status in January 2018, they decided not to renew his contract. Prior to the expiration of his contract in March 2018, Thompson installed remote access software on a spare server in the Jaguars’ server room and remotely accessed computers controlling the jumbotron during three 2018 NFL games.
The Jaguars discovered the intrusion during a game in December 2018 and traced the IP address of the hacker to Thompson’s residence. The FBI conducted a search of Thompson’s home in July 2019, seizing his computers and a firearm that he was prohibited from possessing as a convicted felon. Investigators found thousands of images and hundreds of videos depicting child sex abuse material on Thompson’s devices, along with evidence of his unauthorized access to the Jaguars’ systems. FBI Jacksonville’s acting special agent in charge, Coult Markovsky, condemned Thompson’s exploitation of innocent children and his malicious actions against his employer.
In November 2023, a federal jury convicted Thompson of producing child sex abuse material while required to register as a sex offender, violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The FBI’s investigation uncovered Thompson’s multiple crimes, which resulted in his lengthy prison sentence. The Jaguars expressed gratitude to prosecutors for their efforts in the case and emphasized their commitment to supporting the legal process and seeking justice for victims of exploitation and abuse. Thompson’s case serves as a reminder of the serious consequences for individuals who engage in illegal activities, especially those involving children and vulnerable populations.
The sentencing of Samuel Arthur Thompson highlights the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, particularly when they involve heinous crimes such as child exploitation and abuse. Thompson’s manipulation of the Jaguars’ systems and his possession of child sex abuse material demonstrate a disturbing pattern of behavior that poses a significant threat to innocent victims and society as a whole. The severe consequences imposed by the court reflect the gravity of Thompson’s offenses and send a strong message about the severity of child sexual exploitation and the need for strict enforcement of laws to protect vulnerable individuals. The collaboration between law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the judiciary in prosecuting cases like Thompson’s underscores the commitment to seeking justice and ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals, especially children.
