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SALT LAKE CITY — A Tooele man has pleaded guilty to soliciting child rape and creating child pornography and was sentenced to at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
Christopher Poole, 35, pleaded guilty to solicitation of rape and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, first-degree felonies. Judge William Kendall sentenced him to between 10 years and life in prison for the solicitation of rape charge and between five years and life for the other charges, with the sentences running concurrently.
The investigation into Poole began after Snapchat reported child pornography video and images being uploaded into his account. Charging documents said he told police he had asked for and received some photos of a young girl through his girlfriend and he had been viewing child pornography for about 20 years.
Poole's girlfriend, Brittany Driscoll, was given a similar sentence in April and will serve at least 10 years in prison and up to life for two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child from a person in a position of trust and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, first-degree felonies.
In his guilty plea, Poole admitted to requesting to have sexual intercourse with a child under 14, and said he had asked on multiple occasions to have sexual intercourse with the young victim, and Driscoll had agreed if the victim would consent as well.
Poole also admitted in the plea to possessing and producing child pornography depicting sexual abuse of a child. He said he distributed content depicting children as young as 4 years old, and produced content with children as young as 8 years old.
Ten counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony, were dismissed against Poole as part of a plea deal.
In a memo filed with the court, defense attorney Elly Hendriksen said Poole is "a good man who made some bad decisions." She said he is taking responsibility for those decisions, has worked to support his family, served in the Army and cooperated with police and the court process.
"Christopher acknowledges that he needs therapeutic help and intervention and hopes he can receive the necessary services while serving his time in order to give him the chance to be a productive member of society again," Hendriksen said.
Poole was ordered to complete sex offender treatment and give any evidence to police that they have not already received.
