Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a 16-year sentence for a child predator for possessing and soliciting child pornography as well as online solicitation of minors. James Bechtold pled guilty after explicit images and videos of children were found on his electronic devices. Bechtold also received explicit photos of young children from a babysitter in Colorado.
“We’ve secured a lengthy prison sentence to ensure this man who exploited children is kept away from the public for the next 16 years,” Attorney General Ashley Moody said.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation into Bechtold’s actions started in March after law enforcement officials in Colorado were alerted. Bechtold began a relationship with a Colorado woman on an online dating platform called Fetlife using the username ‘Daddy_Red_Oak.’ The two soon switched to communicating via Snapchat.
The woman shared with Bechtold, under the alias ‘redblessesyou’ on Snapchat, that she babysat three children six days a week. The defendant manipulated the babysitter into sending him pictures of the two female toddlers, specifically asking for images of the children’s “private areas.” Bechtold threatened the babysitter and demanded she send the photos.
Through pictures from Bechtold and other information the babysitter shared, authorities accessed information from the defendant’s accounts and traced his residence to Valrico in Hillsborough County, Florida.
During a subsequent search of Bechtold’s residence, FDLE agents found images and videos depicting child pornography on electronic devices.
Bechtold faced 14 counts of possession of child pornography, along with a charge of the production of child pornography and online solicitation of a minor for sex acts. Bechtold pled guilty and will serve 16 years in prison.
Following the prison sentence, Bechtold will be on a 7-year probationary period and will remain a registered sex offender for life.
Colorado authorities arrested the babysitter and filed charges for sexual exploitation of a child.
Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Guillermo Vallejo handled the case.
