Pensacola, FL – Charles M. Schmaltz, a 28-year-old resident of Pensacola, has pled guilty to charges of cyberstalking and distributing obscene materials to minor females, as announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. The guilty plea was made in federal court, underscoring a severe violation of laws protecting children from online exploitation.
U.S. Attorney Heekin emphasized the seriousness of the crime, stating, “Protecting children from online exploitation and abuse is of paramount importance, and my office will aggressively pursue, prosecute, and seek punishment to the fullest extent of the law for those who prey upon our most innocent, vulnerable populations. My message to offenders is clear: if you prey upon our children, you had better pray we don’t find you.”
Court documents reveal that Schmaltz engaged with multiple minor females through more than ten social media accounts from 2022 to 2024. Despite repeated requests from both the minors and their parents to cease communication, Schmaltz continued to send sexually explicit content, including graphic messages and images of his genitals. The victims, aged between 9 and 15, were subjected to this harassment until law enforcement intervened.
The successful apprehension of Schmaltz was the result of a collaborative investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Dale County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dothan Police Department in South Alabama, where some victims were located. Schmaltz now faces up to 30 years in prison and lifetime supervision upon release. His sentencing is set for July 17, 2025, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, presided over by United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the rising threat of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project aims to enhance the ability of federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For further details about Project Safe Childhood, interested parties can visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For more information on this case or to access public court documents, individuals are encouraged to visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida’s website. Inquiries can also be directed to the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, via email at USAFLN.Press.Office@usdoj.gov.
