A Hernando County man, Richard Joseph Edstrom, 40, has been arrested following an indictment charging him with possession of child sexual abuse material. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. If found guilty, Edstrom could face up to 10 years in federal prison.
The indictment alleges that between March 2024 and October 2025, Edstrom possessed and accessed material containing child sexual abuse content.
Officials emphasized that "an indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty."
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project brings together federal, state, and local agencies to find and prosecute those who exploit children and to help victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
The investigation involves the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson is prosecuting the case.
