West Tennessee man found guilty of child pornography offenses
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE - WESTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE:
Federal Jury finds Millington Man Guilty of Child Pornography Offenses
Memphis, TN – On October 30, 2025, after a four-day trial, a federal jury found Michael Fruitticher, 37, of Millington, guilty of production and attempted production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the verdict today.
According to information presented in court, between at least July 2011 and continuing through May 2014, Fruitticher video-recorded a child nude in the shower, photographed the child nude and in lingerie in sexually lascivious poses, and photographed himself raping the child. DNA results revealed Fruitticher’s and the child’s DNA on an item of lingerie worn by the child in one series of photographs. In May 2019, federal and state law enforcement officers investigating the case found devices containing the child sexual abuse material in Fruitticher’s possession.
United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Violent crimes against children, including the production of materials depicting child rape and sexual abuse, are heinous violations of the rule of law. We are committed to removing child sex offenders from our community and to protecting our children from those who would do them harm.”
Sentencing is set for Wednesday, February 4, 2026, before United States District Judge Mark S. Norris. Fruitticher is facing a sentence of 15 to 40 years of imprisonment.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative that marshals federal, state, and local resources to apprehend individuals who exploit children and to identify and rescue victims.
The case was investigated by the Millington Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force.
United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Delery and P. Neal Oldham, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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