Federal Judge Upholds 80-Year Sentence for Satanic Child Exploitation Founder

A federal judge, appointed by President Trump, dismissed an appeal from Bradley Cadenhead, the founder of a Satanist child exploitation network, affirming his 80-year prison sentence in Texas.

The 20-year-old Cadenhead faced a setback in his second legal challenge. An online group he created, known as 764, is under investigation for child pornography-related activities in Erath County. The FBI has reported that the group coerced minors into self-harm and engaging in sexual acts on camera. Cadenhead’s petition was deemed “essentially a rehash” of a previous state-level appeal rejected in November 2023 for lacking legal merit, according to U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman.

Cadenhead’s federal appeals attorney did not respond to inquiries about the case. His appeal claimed that his trial attorneys provided inadequate legal representation by encouraging him to plead guilty without fully considering a psychological evaluation.

Cadenhead reportedly launched the group 764 on the chat platform Discord when he was just 15, naming it after a Texas zip code. The FBI characterizes 764 as part of a nihilistic extremist movement fueled by a disdain for humanity and a desire for societal collapse. Members have faced charges for pressuring minors into performing degrading acts, distributing child pornography, abusing pets, and even portraying self-harm.

In discussions with a psychologist, Cadenhead revealed experiences of bullying and insufficient parental supervision during his troubled childhood. He once called his father in distress after being influenced to watch a shocking video. This exposure eventually led him to a chat room filled with violent content, marking a turning point in his behavior.

A lawyer argued in November 2024 that Cadenhead’s story could have been recounted in a more sympathetic light, highlighting his issues as a lonely, abused teenager seeking attention. Such insights could potentially have influenced his sentencing, possibly leading to probation instead of the lengthy sentence he received.

Erath County District Attorney M. Alan Nash cautioned against any consideration of parole for Cadenhead. He referenced troubling materials discovered among Cadenhead’s belongings, revealing a disturbing fascination with violence, and warned that the defendant poses a significant threat.

According to legal documents, Cadenhead acknowledged being influenced by another Discord group, “Greggy’s Cult,” which has also faced scrutiny. Recent indictments target the alleged leaders of this group on similar child exploitation and pornography charges.