A federal jury in Fort Pierce, Florida, has found Michael Gordon Douglas guilty of multiple child exploitation crimes. The 48-year-old from Escondido, California was convicted on seven counts of distributing child sexual abuse material and one count of attempting to entice a minor for sexual activity.
Prosecutors demonstrated during the five-day trial that in October 2023, Douglas participated in an online chat room focused on incest and other taboo subjects. He communicated with someone he believed to be the mother of an eight-year-old girl, sharing explicit photos and videos while advising her on how to prepare the child for sexual encounters. Douglas attempted to arrange a Halloween party where he planned to engage sexually with the child.
On the day scheduled for meeting with the child, Douglas noticed law enforcement presence and attempted to flee. A female passenger alerted authorities by shouting that Douglas had a grenade. He then engaged in a standoff with a SWAT team before surrendering after discarding what appeared to be a real grenade but was later identified as a replica.
In his vehicle, investigators found various items including sex toys and children's lingerie which Douglas intended to use during his planned encounter. Most of these items were purchased online shortly before his arrest.
Douglas is scheduled for sentencing on August 25 before U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon and faces between 15 years to life imprisonment.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida along with acting Special Agent in Charge Jose Figueroa from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office.
HSI Miami and San Diego Field Divisions conducted the investigation while U.S. Attorneys Justin Chapman and Adam McMichael are handling prosecution efforts.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child exploitation through coordinated federal, state, and local efforts.
For further information regarding court documents related to this case, please visit www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-80219.