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Pensacola, FL – June 2025
Charles M. Schmaltz, 28, of Pensacola, has pleaded guilty in federal court to cyberstalking and transmitting obscene materials to minor females, as announced by U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida.
“Protecting children from online abuse remains a top priority,” said U.S. Attorney Heekin. “Offenders who target our most vulnerable will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If you prey on children, pray we don’t find you.”
Details of the Offense
According to court documents, from 2022 to 2024, Schmaltz used ten or more social media accounts to contact multiple minor girls, ranging in age from 9 to 15 years old. Despite repeated requests from the minors and their parents to cease contact, Schmaltz persisted and sent sexually explicit messages and images of his genitals. The communications included graphic depictions of sexual acts involving the minors.
Schmaltz’s conduct spanned jurisdictions and was ultimately uncovered through a multi-agency investigation involving law enforcement in North Florida and South Alabama, where several victims resided.
Sentencing and Legal Consequences
Schmaltz faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and lifetime supervision upon release. Sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., before U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II at the federal courthouse in Pensacola.
Investigation and Prosecution
This case was investigated by the:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
- Dale County Sheriff’s Office (Alabama)
- Dothan Police Department (Alabama)
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg.
Part of Project Safe Childhood
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the growing threat of child sexual exploitation online. The program coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to identify, apprehend, and prosecute predators, and to assist child victims.
For more information, visit: www.projectsafechildhood.gov
Contact:
U.S. Attorney’s Office – Northern District of Florida
📧 [email protected]
🖋️ justice.gov/usao/fln
📢 X: @NDFLnews
