A man from Escondido, California, who is a registered sex offender, has been sentenced to life in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material and attempting to entice a minor for sexual activity. Michael Gordon Douglas, 48, received the sentence on August 25, 2025, from U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon. The sentence includes a lifetime of supervision as a sex offender and an order to pay $25,000 in restitution.
Douglas was convicted by a federal jury in May after a five-day trial on seven counts of distributing child sexual abuse material and one count of attempted enticement of a minor. Evidence presented during the trial showed that in 2023 Douglas communicated online with someone he believed was the mother of an eight-year-old girl. He distributed illegal material to this person and arranged to meet the child for sex.
On the day he planned to meet in California, Douglas noticed law enforcement officers nearby and tried to flee by car. During his attempt to escape, his passenger shouted that he had a grenade and intended harm. Douglas displayed what appeared to be a real grenade but was later found to be a replica. After a brief standoff with SWAT officers, he was taken into custody.
Before this case, Douglas had been convicted in California in 2011 for similar offenses involving distribution and possession of illegal material depicting minors.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida stated: “The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation.” Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and Special Agent in Charge Shawn S. Gibson of HSI San Diego also announced the sentencing.
Homeland Security Investigations agents from West Palm Beach, Florida, and Oceanside, California led the investigation into this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Chapman and Adam McMichael prosecuted Douglas.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006—to address child exploitation through coordinated efforts between federal prosecutors and agencies at all levels (more information available at www.justice.gov/psc).
Court documents related to this case can be accessed via www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-80219.
