He called it “teen modeling,” but a jury said the photographs were images of child sexual abuse
Prosecutors said he told a 15-year-old girl he would help her break into the modeling industry, but many of the photos taken were nude photographs including closeups of the girl’s genitals.
On Friday, a federal jury convicted 53-year-old William Wellington Hooper, of Mathews County, of charges of conspiracy to produce child pornography, production of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a child.
In April 2019, Hooper texted the teenager to talk about helping her get into the modeling business, according to court documents.
After the conversation, Hooper’s co-conspirator, Jennifer Mae Hutchens, took photos of the girl inside a home in Gloucester. Among the photographs were nude images, the documents say. The photos were sent to Hooper, the owner of Williams Wharf Oyster Company LLC.
At one point, the indictment says the girl complained she was not receiving enough money for the photos.
“I can only pay you what they pay me,” Hooper responded, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors said Hooper told the girl he could only get $60 for nude images that did not show her face. Hooper later suggested he could get over a thousand dollars if he could photograph her, according to court documents.
Hutchens — who pleaded guilty in June to one count of producing child pornography — drove the girl to Hooper’s yacht in Mathews County to “clean it." While the girl was on the yacht, court documents say Hooper took “numerous” nude photos of her and had her perform oral sex on him. The girl was paid $50, according to the documents.
Hooper knew the girl needed money for a school trip in the summertime, the documents say.
Hutchens told investigators she was in a dominant-submissive relationship with Hooper, and that he wanted to train the girl to be submissive as well, according to court documents.
“Hutchens, at the request of Hooper, recruited other minor girls to participate in what Hooper called ’teen modeling.' He promised these children, whose families were struggling financially, that they would be compensated," according to a Monday news release from a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
In a text message on May 4, 2019, Hooper told Hutchens to “be successful tomorrow and find us some new trainees. Once you find them, put me in touch with them or bring them to your place for photos,” according to a court transcript.
Hooper is facing a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life in prison when he’s sentenced on Feb. 9, 2021. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Hutchens is slated to be sentenced for her role on Oct. 13.
Hooper was first arrested in connection with the child porn allegations last November in La Plata, Maryland. He was extradited Dec. 19 to Mathews County, where he faced charges in state court.
“The Mathews County Sheriff’s Office would like to acknowledge justice for the victims and their strength and courage to come forward and the many people who cooperated with information which was paramount in ridding this community of a dangerous predator,” the sheriff’s office said in a Monday news release.
The sheriff’s office also recognized the work of an investigator, April Edwards, and the Department of Homeland Security and United States Attorney’s Office.
Hooper, a former manager at Oceaneering International Inc. of Chesapeake, was previously convicted in 2013 in U.S. District Court in Norfolk on charges relating to a kickback scheme involving Navy contracts. He was sentenced to 13 months in prison and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.
Jessica Nolte, 757-247-4513, jnolte@dailypress.com
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