An Orlando man who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor and producing child sexual abuse material is facing up to life in prison.
On Friday, September 20, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that 36-year-old Theron Charles Lord has pleaded guilty to enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and production of child sexual abuse materials.
According to the plea agreement, Lord met a 15-year-old child online in March of 2022, and they began messaging each other on social media platforms. Those messages, which “quickly became sexual in nature,” spanned from March until August of 2022.
In April of that year, Lord drove to meet the child for the first time, and he “engaged in sexual abuse of the (victim).”
Over the next eight months, Lord and the child met in person at least six times, and sexual abuse occurred at each of those meetings. Additionally, he recorded videos of the sexual abuse, and he also made the child record and send him specific videos that included child sexual abuse material.
Lord is facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material. He also faces a minimum of 10 years, up to life, behind bars for the enticement offense.
In addition, Lord has agreed to forfeit the cellphone that was used in the commission of the offenses.
A sentencing date for Lord has not yet been scheduled.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Rockledge Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.