Former Memphis firefighter Zachary Richey pleaded guilty on May 8, 2026, to five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, nearly five years after his arrest. He now faces a potential sentence ranging from eight to 60 years in prison, with a judge set to determine his punishment at a later hearing.
Richey changed course and entered guilty pleas just before opening statements were scheduled to begin in his trial, according to Action News 5. Prosecutors charged him with five counts tied to material that investigators said was stored in an online account.
Investigators ultimately found 44 images categorized as apparent child pornography in that online account, an earlier report from Action News 5 stated, following a tip to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in August 2021. Richey had worked for the Memphis Fire Department for roughly six months before being taken off duty, then was relieved without pay while the investigation moved forward.
How The Case Got Started
The investigation began with a CyberTip sent to law enforcement, a process the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children explains is a common pathway for online child-exploitation leads. NCMEC reviews tips from the public and from electronic service providers, then passes along actionable information to the appropriate local agency to investigate.
Why Prosecutors Push These Cases Hard
Child-exploitation cases are frequently handled through initiatives such as Project Safe Childhood, which links U.S. Attorney’s offices with local law enforcement to pursue internet-facilitated exploitation. The Department of Justice says those partnerships help locate victims, focus limited resources and move cases from investigation to trial.
Richey’s sentencing hearing will be set by the court at a later date and will appear in public court records. This report will be updated when the hearing date and any related filings become available.
