James Hjelmeland, a 30-year-old Canadian national, has been indicted in Orlando, Florida on charges related to child sexual exploitation. The United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the indictment which includes one count of attempted enticement of a minor for sexual activity and multiple counts involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). If found guilty, Hjelmeland faces severe penalties ranging from a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment for the attempted enticement charge, and up to 20 years for each distribution and transportation offense.
Court documents reveal that on December 29, 2024, an undercover detective from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office posed as the guardian of a fictitious 12-year-old child. Hjelmeland allegedly engaged in explicit conversations with the detective and arranged to travel from Canada to Orlando with intentions to engage in sexual activities with the minor. During these interactions, he reportedly distributed CSAM and was found in possession of such material upon his arrest in Orlando.
The indictment serves as a formal accusation and maintains that every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The investigation involved several agencies including Homeland Security Investigations, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, United States Customs and Border Patrol, and the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Team. Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson will prosecute the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation. Launched in May 2006, it coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local resources to tackle these crimes effectively.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.