Convicted sex offender arrested for possessing child pornography

A Columbia man convicted of possessing child pornography is now facing additional child pornography charges.

According to the Boone County Sheriff’s Department Cyber Crimes Task Force, 23-year-old Eric Hall was arrested in St. Louis County. Investigators in St. Louis searched Hall’s residence and found child porn on his computer.

Hall was arrested in 2009 for possessing child porn. Earlier this year, Boone County Sheriff’s Department said Hall failed to maintain his legally-mandated sex offender registration status. Hall was featured in a March CrimeStoppers report.

In 2008, investigators found 86 videos and 166 photos showing the sexual molestation and exploitation of children during a search of Hall’s computers. Some of the children were as young as toddlers, according to law enforcement.

Hall pleaded guilty in 2009 and was sentenced to seven years in prison, but he was later placed on five years of probation. He then failed to register as a sex offender in 2013 after violating his probation.

Hall has been charged in Boone County with a violation of probation and failing to register as a sex offender. His bond is set at $90,000.

Charges are pending in St. Louis County and Hall is expected to be transported back to Boone County this week.