JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A United States Marine was sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a Jacksonville minor online, the Department of Justice announced in a press release Monday.
Schyular Quinton Willis, 24, pleaded guilty in January after he was arrested for attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity in October 2023, according to the DOJ.
On Oct. 4, 2023, court documents show the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) was contacted by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office about a report of child exploitation.
JSO officers responded to a home after the parents of the victim discovered nude images of the child on her cellphone along with a series of text messages between her and Willis, the DOJ said. The text thread included several nude images of Willis and the victim.
Investigators learned Willis had spent time with the victim while he was in Florida as an active-duty Marine, according to the DOJ. The NCIS verified Willis was an active-duty lance corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps and was then stationed at Camp Pendleton in California.
NCIS investigated the victim's cellphone, locating texts between her and Willis dating from July 31, 2023, to Sept. 26, 2023.
"Throughout the text thread sexual intercourse and the production of child sexual abuse materials were discussed on several occasions," the release states.
Willis was arrested at Camp Pendleton on Oct. 10, 2023. During an interview with investigators, Willis said talking with the victim was a "mistake," according to the DOJ.
Willis was sentenced to 17 years and six months in federal prison.
