COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus man was sentenced to 35 years in prison Tuesday for sexually abusing a non-verbal child with autism and creating images and video of the abuse.
According to court documents, between October 2024 and February 2025, 47-year-old Christian Toms sexually exploited a wholly non-verbal 11-year-old boy and shared the child sexual abuse material with others online.
Investigators searched Toms’ residence after cyber tips were submitted regarding another man Toms had been communicating with online, according to U.S. Attorney Dominick Gerace II’s office.
Attorneys said a search of Toms’ phone revealed more than 130 files depicting the minor victim’s abuse, and a total of 700 files containing child sexual abuse material.
Gerace’s office said Toms’ online communications included photos of other minor victims inside his resident. Toms also discussed grooming a second victim, writing “…too bad [minor victim] is neuro typical…” and “I’m gonna get him I swear lol.”
Toms pleaded guilty in December 2025 to producing, distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography.
The case was prosecuted in connection with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
