***Warning: The details of this story are graphic and disturbing.***
A Mississippi man, who thought he was going to rape a baby girl during his birthday trip in a Tennessee hotel room, is now behind bars facing multiple charges.
Chattanooga State Police arrested 49-year-old Dennis Allen Gaal on Tuesday.
Gaal communicated with an undercover agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation online while using the Telegram app on November 17th.
Gaal identified himself as a contract chef for an offshore hiring company and claimed he was attracted to 0 to 12 year olds, but if they were older and looked young it was okay too.
Gaal said, “I felt the Telegram app was secure, and I was hesitant to join other groups for fear of being caught.”
The undercover agent mentioned to Gaal about the possibility of sexual contact with a 10-month old boy.
“I wouldn’t hurt the baby, but I’d love to play sexually. Would love to see if it happens and would be a dream come true,” Gaal had replied to the agent.
The agent had told Gaal he was from Tennessee and Gaal replied he might need to take a trip there soon.
They exchanged phone numbers and Gaal soon started to text the number to set up the encounter.
That allowed agents to look up his phone number, which revealed Gaal’s name and that he had previously been convicted of molesting a child he babysat in 2000.
“Gaal stated that there were three boys he molested between the ages of 2 and 4,” the affidavit said. “Gaal stated that he molested the boys ‘all while awake most of the time.'”
Gaal admitted to investigators his sexual perversions started with his 2-year old nephew that he had molested for three years.
On November 20, Gaal asked the agent what part of Tennessee they were in. Upon hearing Chattanooga, the report says Gaal replied: “That sounds awesome. I can’t wait. This is looking to be the best trip I’ve ever taken.”
Gaal then booked two rooms at the Hotel Chalet (formerly the Chattanooga Choo Choo), sending the agent a screenshot of the booking confirmation.
The report said on December 5, Allen sent the agent an image of five infant outfits, along with an elephant rattle.
Allen showed up at the hotel on Monday, which was his 49th birthday. There, agents arrested and booked him.
Gaal was charged with attempted child rape and two counts of attempted solicitation of a minor.
