Orlando Man Sentenced To 26 Years For Enticement Of A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity And Production Of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza has sentenced Theron Charles Lord (37, Orlando) to 26 years in federal prison for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and production of child sexual abuse materials. Lord pleaded guilty on September 19, 2024.

According to the plea agreement, Lord and a 15-year-old child victim (CV) met online and began messaging on social media platforms. The messages quickly became sexual in nature and spanned from March until August 2022. In April 2022, Lord drove to meet the CV for the first time and engaged in sexual abuse of the CV. Between April and November 2022, Lord and the CV met in person at least six times. Lord sexually abused the CV at each meeting and recorded videos of the sexual abuse. Additionally, Lord caused the CV to record and send him specific videos of child sexual abuse material. 

“This predator repeatedly exploited the innocence of a child and demonstrated a complete disregard for the well-being of others,” said Homeland Security Investigations Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI investigators, alongside our partners at the Rockledge Police Department, are combating the exploitation of minors every day and have successfully removed another predator from the streets.”        

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Rockledge Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.