The Investigation Unfolds
In June 2023, investigators discovered explicit videos on a phone left behind in a Franklin restaurant. The content led authorities to a case that would reveal a disturbing pattern of abuse spanning more than twenty years.
Camilo Campos‑Hurtado, a 66‑year‑old soccer coach who ran youth teams in the area, was found to have drugged and assaulted boys as young as nine, recording the attacks and preserving the material for his own gratification. The victims, ranging from nine to seventeen, were lured through promises of playing time on his team.
Courtroom Verdict
Prosecutors initially sought a fifty‑year term, but after weighing the evidence, the presiding judge sentenced Campos‑Hurtado to thirty years in federal prison. The ruling also mandates five years of supervised release should he survive the incarceration, after which he will be deported to Mexico.
The sentencing was carried out by Judge Robert E. McGuire, who emphasized the gravity of the crimes and the need for a punishment that reflects the decades of harm inflicted on the children.
U.S. Attorney Braden Boucek and the Franklin Police Department played pivotal roles in building the case, coordinating the collection of digital evidence and interviewing numerous witnesses.
Broader Implications
The case drew attention from national legislators, including Senator Marsha Blackburn, who issued a statement praising the court’s decision and reaffirming commitment to protecting vulnerable minors.
Beyond the prison term, the ruling underscores the intersection of criminal justice, immigration enforcement and child protection, signaling a decisive stance against long‑term sexual predation within community sports programs.