Ex-Navy officer caught in sting pleads guilty to child porn charge

A former U.S. Navy officer has pleaded guilty to an attempted child pornography production charge after he was arrested in a child exploitation sting back in December.

Christopher Paul Hetherington, 33, entered the plea for attempted production of child sexual abuse material on Friday, according to a release from the Department of Justice.

Hetherington was stationed in Norfolk and serving as a surface warfare officer department head on the USS Ross at the time of his arrest in December 2022. He was originally charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor in addition to the attempted production charge.