Michael R. Foster, 49, of DeFuniak Springs, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Apr. 8 on one count of attempted enticement of a minor, according to United States Attorney John P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida.
The case is significant as it addresses ongoing efforts to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Foster appeared in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee for his arraignment. His 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 Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations investigated the case, which will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch.
Heekin said that an indictment is only an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and does not constitute 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 falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through coordination among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida serves as one of 94 offices nationwide under the direction of the Attorney General.
