Florida man sentenced to 60 years for producing child pornography
PANAMA CITY, Fla. – A Florida man was sentenced Monday to 60 years in prison for producing child pornography. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, whose joint investigation led to the conviction in this case.
Charles Heath Stewart, 43, of Grand Ridge, was convicted Aug. 21, 2015, after the government presented evidence that, on three occasions, in September, October and November 2013, Stewart knowingly produced child pornography when he coerced a child to engage in sexually explicit conduct with Stewart for the purpose of creating a visual depiction. The evidence proved that, on countless occasions, Stewart used physical force and death threats to coerce the child into engaging in sexually explicit acts with Stewart while he videotaped the acts using his cellular telephone. Additionally, evidence presented at trial showed that Stewart knowingly possessed child pornographic images.
“While no jail sentence is long enough to erase the damage he has done to his victim, Charles Stewart will have the next 60 years to reflect on the pain and suffering he has caused,” said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. “Child pornography memorializes the sexual abuse of a child. We can only hope that this sentencing brings some comfort to the victim and that he will never again harm another child.”
“Children deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities, and these despicable acts ruin lives at an early age,” said Acting United States Attorney Christopher P. Canova. “This prison sentence sends a strong message to child predators that my office and our law enforcement partners are committed to pursuing, prosecuting, and providing justice to those who target innocent children.”
This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 12,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.
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