Mississippi man arrested after reportedly meeting at Tennessee hotel to ‘play’ sexually with child
Published 4:12 pm Tuesday, December 12, 2023
A Mississippi man who unknowingly arranged with federal agents to meet at a Tennessee hotel to “play” sexually with a 10-month-old baby is now behind bars, according to police.
WTVC in Chattanooga reports that Dennis Allen Gaal, 49, was arrested by Chattanooga State Police and charged with attempted child rape and two counts of attempted solicitation of a minor. Gaal listed that he was from Mississippi when arrested.
In November, Gaal reportedly communicated via an online app with an undercover agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and detailed his desire to have sex with a young child.
Court documents indicate that when an agent mentioned the possibility of sexual contact with a 10-month-old boy, Gaal told the agent that he wouldn’t hurt the baby but would “love to play” sexually with the child.
When the agent told Gaal that they were in Tennessee, Gaal then planned a trip and booked two rooms at a Chattanooga hotel. Gaal then reportedly sent the agent a screenshot of the booking confirmation.
Gaal then reportedly showed up at the hotel on Dec. 11, where agents arrested and booked him.
Officials say that Gaal has previously been convicted of molesting a child he babysat in 2000.