Samuel Arthur Thompson, a former Jacksonville Jaguars Jumbotron operator, has been sentenced to 220 years in federal prison for multiple offenses involving sexual abuse of children, sex offender violations, and causing malfunctions of the EverBank Stadium video boards. Thompson was found guilty of producing, receiving, and possessing child sex abuse material, violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, sending damaging commands to a protected computer, and possessing a firearm as a felon. He was also convicted of sodomizing a 14-year-old boy in Alabama in 1998. Despite his criminal history, Thompson was hired as a contractor by the Jaguars in 2013 to work on the video board network.
Thompson’s contract with the Jaguars required him to report his sex offender status, but he failed to do so. The team did not renew his contract in 2018 after discovering his criminal past. Prior to his contract expiring, it was discovered that Thompson had installed remote access software on a spare server of the Jaguars. He used this access to remotely control the Jumbotron during three 2018 games, causing frequent malfunctions. The FBI was able to trace the commands back to Thompson’s residence, leading to his arrest in 2019. A search of his home revealed a significant amount of child sex abuse material on his personal devices.
In addition to his offenses related to child sexual abuse, Thompson was also found to have sexually exploited two additional children, including one he encountered while fleeing from prosecution in the Philippines. The FBI arrested him upon his return to the U.S. in January 2020. Investigators also spoke to three young boys who confirmed the sexual abuse they suffered at Thompson’s hands. The FBI emphasized their dedication to seeking justice for victims of crime in cases like this, where both children and an employer were exploited by the perpetrator.
The investigation into Thompson’s actions was a joint effort involving multiple agencies working to bring him to justice. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of relentlessly pursuing those who prey on innocent victims, whether through physical abuse or cyber crimes like manipulating computer systems. Thompson’s actions had the potential to cause significant harm, both to the children he victimized and to his former employer, the Jacksonville Jaguars. This case underscores the commitment of law enforcement to holding offenders accountable for their actions, regardless of the nature of the crimes they commit.
The severity of Thompson’s sentence reflects the serious nature of his crimes and the impact they had on his victims. By exploiting children and manipulating his position with the Jaguars to cause disruptions at the stadium, Thompson demonstrated a pattern of harmful behavior that warranted a lengthy prison term. The investigation into his actions highlighted the importance of vigilance in detecting and stopping predators who seek to harm others, and the collaboration of law enforcement agencies in pursuing justice for those affected by such crimes. Thompson’s arrest and conviction serve as a reminder of the dedication of investigators to holding offenders accountable and seeking justice for victims of abuse.
