An Orlando man told FBI agents he planned to have sex with a 5-year-old autistic girl to keep himself from molesting his own small children, according to court documents.
Eric Bishop, 43, was sentenced Thursday to 17 years and five months in federal prison. Bishop, an artist, was married with three daughters younger than 16 when he arranged with an undercover agent online to have sex with the agent’s fictitious granddaughter, according to federal court documents.
Last year, an FBI agent found an advertisement saying, “Do you enjoy stuff you can’t talk about to most people? … Desires so dark and despicable theyre shameful? Yeah, me too,” according to court documents. The agent responded to the advertisement, saying he was babysitting his 5-year-old granddaughter. Bishop responded and he and the agent began planning a meeting so Bishop could molest the granddaughter, court documents state. The agent told Bishop the child was autistic.
Bishop detailed sexual desires he had for the 5-year-old autistic girl. They arranged to meet in Lake Mary on June 21. Bishop was arrested and admitted to the plan.
He told agents he wanted to have sexual activity with another child so he would not molest his own 2-year-old daughter. He previously told the undercover agent he had sexual fantasies while bathing his 2-year-old daughter and that his urges were beginning to “consume” him.
Bishop said he felt the 5-year-old was less likely to tell anyone about the abuse because she was autistic and less verbal, court documents state.
Bishop’s mother, sister and wife of eight years wrote letters to the federal judge pleading for leniency. Bishop used drugs since he was a teen and cut himself in his 20s, according to the letters.
His wife and sister alluded to abuse in his childhood that affected him as an adult. A doctor’s evaluation of Bishop was made confidential.
“I know without a doubt that Eric would never hurt me, our kids or anyone else physically or emotionally for that matter,” his wife wrote.
Bishop pleaded guilty Sept. 25 to a charge of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. He and his lawyers asked the judge for a 10-year prison sentence. Bishop had no prior criminal history.
ktorralva@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5417 or Twitter @KMTorralva
.galleries:after {
content: ”;
display: block;
background-color: #dd1300;
margin: 16px auto 0;
height: 5px;
width: 100px;
}
.galleries:before {
content: “Central Florida Crime Videos”;
display: block;
font: 700 23px/25px Belizio,Georgia,’Droid Serif’,serif;
text-align: center;
color: #1e1e1e;
}
