Jackson County Man Sentenced to 720 Months in Prison for Producing Child Pornography

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – Charles Heath Stewart, 43, of Grand Ridge, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to 720 months in prison for producing child pornography. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Following a five-day trial, the jury convicted Stewart on August 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.

"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."

"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."

The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, whose joint investigation led to the conviction in this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn D. Risinger.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States.  To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, amy.alexander@usdoj.gov