Former Navy Chief Sentenced to 35 Years for Producing Child Abuse Material

Cory Richard Hambley used his position and resources to exploit minors and adult victims.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 1:24am

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A former Navy chief petty officer, Cory Richard Hambley, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for conspiracy to produce child sexual abuse material and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Hambley, who worked as a program analyst for the Missile Defense Agency after retiring from the Navy, repeatedly encouraged his former girlfriend to provide images and videos depicting herself abusing two minor children. He also collected and shared other child sexual abuse material on the internet.

Why it matters

This case highlights the disturbing abuse of power and exploitation of vulnerable individuals by someone in a position of authority. Hambley's actions not only victimized minors but also violated the trust placed in him by the military and the government. It underscores the need for robust safeguards and oversight to prevent such egregious crimes, especially involving those with security clearances and access to sensitive information.

The details

According to court documents, Hambley, who was married, contacted his former girlfriend, Grace Elizabeth Paradis, and repeatedly encouraged her to provide images and videos depicting herself abusing two minor children, ages 5 and 9. Knowing Paradis was struggling to pay her rent, Hambley provided her with a camera and $4,000 with the expectation that she would produce the material. Paradis recorded the abuse and provided the files to Hambley, using a Google Drive folder he had set up. Investigators also found child abuse material on Hambley's electronic devices depicting a minor child he had lived with, as well as images of two adult victims he had served with in the Navy, which he had created without their knowledge. In total, investigators identified an additional 1,155 images and 142 videos of child sexual abuse material on Hambley's devices.

  • In November 2022, Hambley contacted his former girlfriend, Grace Elizabeth Paradis.
  • On Wednesday, Hambley was sentenced to 35 years in prison in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The players

Cory Richard Hambley

A former Navy chief petty officer who was sentenced to 35 years in prison for conspiracy to produce child sexual abuse material and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. After retiring from the Navy, he worked as a program analyst for the Missile Defense Agency, where he held a Top Secret security clearance and supervised 50 to 60 subordinates.

Grace Elizabeth Paradis

Hambley's former girlfriend, who he repeatedly encouraged to provide images and videos depicting herself abusing two minor children, ages 5 and 9.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the urgent need for stronger safeguards and oversight to prevent individuals in positions of power and authority from exploiting vulnerable minors and adults. It underscores the importance of thorough background checks, ongoing monitoring, and swift action to address any signs of misconduct, especially for those with access to sensitive information and resources.