A South Carolina man has landed a hefty 27-year prison sentence for a brazen cross-country trip meant to culminate in illicit relations with a minor. Timothy Mikell Schultheis, a 26-year-old from Hilton Head, known also by an alias Jackson Oden, has pleaded guilty to transporting a minor with the intention to engage in criminal sexual activity. His plea on January 10, followed by Tuesday's sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Márquez, will also saddle him with a lifetime of supervised release and the obligation to register as a sex offender.
Labelled a predator by investigators, Schultheis used the mirage of social media connectivity to prey upon a 12-year-old Arizona girl, whom he drove across state lines back to his residence in South Carolina. Exposing the lurid details, the Department of Justice relayed that facebook communications were unearthed between Schultheis and a the minor, revealing his travel plans and explicit intentions.
Upon his arrest on March 30, 2022, law enforcement found the young girl at his apartment—a discovery that exposed a history repeating itself. Schultheis had already tangled with the law for similar misconduct involving another 12-year-old and was under the watch of an ankle monitor at the time of his most recent offense. His plea agreement also compelled an admission of guilt to concurrent charges back in South Carolina, for Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.
U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino conveyed the gravity of Schultheis's conviction, stating, "Our efforts to protect the public start with safeguarding our youth from predators on social media." He added, "Defendant will have a long time in custody to reflect on his crimes, and upon release decades from now, his supervised release conditions will restrict his use of smart phones and encryption technology to further protect the community." In concert, FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Akil Davis illustrated law enforcement's resolute stance, assuring that Schultheis's sentencing "puts a stop to Timothy Schulthies and his repeated offenses."
This case emerged under the banner of Project Safe Childhood, a national drive initiated in 2006 by the Department of Justice, designed to combat child exploitation and abuse. With a comprehensive approach involving federal, state, and local entities, the program endeavors to take down internet-based predators and rescue their victims. As Schultheis begins his lengthy stint behind bars, the FBI hopes this case serves as a stern warning to those contemplating similar vile acts.
