Andrew Boltz, a 25-year-old man from Ohio, was convicted yesterday, October 11, of sexually exploiting a minor on the internet as detailed by the US Department of Justice. Boltz was found guilty on five counts: four for sexual exploitation of a child and one for receipt of child pornography.
Boltz used popular social media platforms, Omegle and Snapchat, to exploit a 16-year-old Illinois girl. Evidence showed he coerced her into sending explicit images of herself. He also controlled the explicit content in those images. Boltz faces a minimum of 15 years in federal prison for each exploitation charge and between five and 20 years for the child pornography conviction. A sentencing date is yet to be set by U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey.
Boltz's six-day trial highlighted the psychological damage suffered by the victim. In her testimony, she shared her experiences of abuse and manipulation. This case exposes the inherent dangers children encounter on the internet.
The conviction of Boltz was commended by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Both emphasized the collaborative efforts made by numerous law enforcement agencies and advocacy centers.
