Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Michael R. Foster, 49, of DeFuniak Springs, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 8 for one count of attempted enticement of a minor, according to United States Attorney John P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida.
The case highlights ongoing efforts to address child sexual exploitation and abuse through federal initiatives. Foster appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee. A jury trial is scheduled for August 24 before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker.
If convicted, Foster faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and could receive up to life imprisonment. The investigation was conducted by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch is prosecuting the case.
Officials emphasized that an indictment is only an allegation and not evidence of guilt: "All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial."
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide through coordination among federal, state, and local agencies.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida serves as one of ninety-four offices representing the nation under direction from the Attorney General.
