NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man with two previous convictions for sexual offenses involving minors was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for receipt of child pornography.According to court documents, on Feb. 12, 2022, a person contacted Newport News Police to report sexually inappropriate messages between a minor and Eric Alan Starling, 45, on Snapchat. On March 8, 2022, an FBI task force officer contacted a probation officer and confirmed Starling’s identity and his status as a registered sex offender. A search of Starling’s Snapchat account confirmed that Starling was engaging in sexually inappropriate chats in which he openly admitted to being a sex offender and discussing with the minor how this could be a problem given their relative ages. Starling also had conversations with an underage individual that included talking about having sex with that individual and sending sexually inappropriate photos of himself.
On June 28, 2023, a federal search warrant was executed on Starling’s residence. Nine electronic devices were seized. After being caught, Starling admitted that he was in possession of “all kinds” of pornography. Forensic analysis of his devices showed images of child sex abuse material.
Starling was convicted on state charges in Virginia in 2006 and 2009. In 2006, Starling was found guilty of using a computer to solicit a minor. In 2009, Starling was found guilty of aggravated sexual battery of a child, taking indecent liberties with children, and sexually explicit material with a minor.