Toledo man indicted for sexually exploiting minor girls, including some as young as 8 years old

A 14-count indictment was filed charging a Toledo man for sexually exploiting minors, said Carole S. Rendon, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Steven Calmes, 37, was charged with eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, five counts of coercion and enticement and one count of receipt of material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor.        

Calmes targeted several girls between the ages of 10 and 14 over the internet and convinced them to send nude picture of themselves to him, or appear naked on a web camera for him. This took place numerous times between 2012 and 2014, according to court documents.

An examination of electronic devices seized during a search revealed 70 videos that constituted child pornography. Calmes used real-time text messages to direct the minor females to engage in sexually explicit conduct, according to court documents.

Several minor victims have been identified, including females as young as eight years old, including victims in Alabama, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan, according to court documents.

Calmes interacted with another child victim who he tried to convince to meet him in person for “more fun.” In another video, Calmes convicted another victim to become fully naked on the web chat. Calmes created a plan to meet this victim at her school, according to court documents.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigating agency in this case is the United States Secret Service, with the assistance of the Toledo Police Department.  The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Alissa M. Sterling.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.