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KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — A U.S. soldier who used online gaming platforms to entice young boys from around the world to send sexual images and videos to him has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to the Army.
Spc. William “Hank” Marshall, 26, was a military policeman assigned to the 92nd Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade.
Marshall also received a dishonorable discharge and was reduced in rank to private. Upon release, he will be required to register as a sex offender, the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel said in a statement Monday.
At a two-day military trial last week in Kaiserslautern, he pleaded guilty to production, distribution and possession of child pornography and the sexual abuse of a child through indecent communication, the statement said.
He also pleaded guilty to willfully disobeying his superior and using obscene language to others involved in the trading of child pornography. The remaining charges against him were dismissed under the terms of a plea agreement.
While stationed in Kaiserslautern starting in November 2023, Marshall used online gaming platforms such as Discord and Sony PlayStation to reach out to 10- to 13-year-old boys, the Army statement said.
He would ask the children to send him nude images and videos of themselves in exchange for money.
Investigators identified numerous victims from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries. Three of his victims and their parents testified during the sentencing phase of the trial, which was held in Kaiserslautern.
Marshall’s online activities were flagged in June 2024 by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The child protection organization reported him to the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
Army investigators discovered thousands of images of child pornography on his devices. Some he produced himself by recording video chats with children in which he asked them to undress and perform sexual acts, the statement said.
While under investigation, Marshall was ordered not to use any electronic devices. On July 3, 2025, he was sent to pretrial detention after he was found hiding a tablet underneath his barracks room shower and using it to download child pornography, according to the statement.
Prosecutor Lt. Col. Sara Nicholson said CID investigators in Kaiserslautern “did exceptional work tracking digital evidence across multiple civilian and foreign jurisdictions.
“Their dedication ensured that every possible victim was accounted for and that the accused was brought to justice,” she said in the statement.
