Dingler sentencing continued

Victor Gray Dingler

Sentencing for a Glencoe man who plead guilty to sexually exploiting two Etowah County children has been continued to April 15.

Victor Gray Dingler pleaded guilty in November to five counts of sexual exploitation of children and two counts of possession of child pornography. Federal prosecutors sought a 190-year sentence for Dingler, according to a sentencing memorandum filed in federal court.

In response, attorneys for Dingler asked for a 30-year sentence, claiming he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after his deployment with the U.S. Air Force, and that he suffered abuse as a child.

Dingler’s crimes came to light after pornographic images involving a young girl were found on a Danish server. Investigators saw an Alabama blanket in the background and used it to narrow their search for the victim.

The Department of Homeland Security worked with the Alabama public school system to identify the girl as a student in an Etowah County school. Identifying the victim led them to Dingler.

Prosecutors claim there is insufficient verifiable evidence to argue that Dingler’s military service caused, mitigated or justified his conduct during 2011 and 2012, when the offenses occurred.