Mississippi Man Accused of Going on Birthday Trip to Tennessee to Rape 10-Month-Old Baby: Police
Dennis Gaal allegedly made birthday plans that were a 'dream come true' for him, police said.
Dec. 15 2023, Published 10:04 a.m. ET
A Mississippi man allegedly made birthday plans that included a trip to Tennessee to rape a 10-month-old baby, but instead he’ll be spending his birthday behind bars, according to authorities.
On Nov. 17, Dennis Allen Gaal, 49, allegedly set up the trip via the Telegram app, but he wasn’t aware he was communicating with an undercover FBI at the time, according to an affidavit obtained by WTVC.
During the conversation, Gaal allegedly said he was a “contract chef for an offshore hiring company” and his “age of attraction is 0-12” but they “can be older if look younger,” the affidavit claims.
The agent reportedly mentioned the possibility of sexual contact with a 10-month-old baby, to which Gaal allegedly replied that he “wouldn’t hurt (the baby) but would love to play (sexually)” and that it “would be a dream come true” if it happened, authorities alleged.
The agent told Gaal he was in Tennessee, to which he replied that it “looks like I may have to take a trip to Tennessee sometime soon,” officials said.
The pair then exchanged phone numbers and Gaal allegedly texted to set up the encounter, the affidavit said.
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Agents, however, used the phone number to figure out Gaal’s identity and learned he was on the sex offender registry for molesting a 2-year-old boy that he was babysitting in 2000, court documents show. That incident took place in Louisiana, where Gaal was born.
During his alleged conversation with the undercover agent, Gaal revealed his conviction and allegedly said that he had molested three other boys between the ages of 2 and 4, ‘all while awake most of the time,’ officials claimed.
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As the details of the trip were being finalized, Gaal allegedly told the agent, “I can’t wait. This is looking to be the best trip I’ve ever taken,” according to the affidavit.
Gaal booked two rooms at the Hotel Chalet in Chattanooga and arrived at the hotel on Dec. 11, officials said.
He was arrested and now faces charges of attempted child rape, and two counts of attempted solicitation of a minor, authorities said.
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