- Joseph Lee Parker, 37, was indicted on multiple child exploitation charges including attempted enticement of a minor and production of child pornography.
- Parker faces mandatory minimum sentences from 5 to 15 years and up to life imprisonment if convicted on the counts scheduled for trial on July 22.
A federal grand jury has indicted a 37-year-old Old Town man on multiple child exploitation charges that include attempted enticement of a minor and attempted child pornography production.
According to a Northern District of Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office press release sent on Tuesday, Joseph Lee Parker, 37, was charged with four counts of attempted enticement of a minor, three counts of attempted production of child pornography and three counts of attempted receipt of child pornography.
Parker appeared in federal court in Gainesville for his arraignment before Judge Midori Lowry. A jury trial is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on July 22 before Judge Allen Winsor.
If convicted, Parker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and up to life imprisonment on each count of attempted enticement of a minor. The attempted production of child pornography charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison on each count. The attempted receipt of child pornography charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison on each count.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office and the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Welch is prosecuting the case.
Federal officials noted that an indictment is only an allegation that a defendant has violated federal law. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program coordinates federal, state and local resources to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals who exploit children and to help identify and rescue victims.