RALEIGH — A 46-year-old Raleigh man was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing child pornography, authorities said.
William Towner Akers entered a guilty plea July 15. Akers was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by supervision for life.
He must also pay a $20,000 fine.
On Jan. 5, 2014, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the home of Bailey Joe and Elizabeth Mills.
Authorities seized several laptop computers, external hard drives and cellphones.
A search of the seized materials found homemade videos made by the Mills, authorities said. The videos showed Akers sexually molesting an 8-year-old female in August 2013.
Bailey Joe Mills was arrested in January 2014 as part of a child porn ring being operated out of his home. Investigators said Bailey Joe Mills operated a daycare out of his home, portraying himself to be a tutor, mentor and babysitter.
The Mills pleaded guilty to manufacturing child pornography.
Akers worked as an IT manager at a Raleigh company as well as a was a charter organization leader for the Boy Scouts of America, the organization confirmed in April.
He was arrested March 12, 2015 after being identified by callers to a tip line.