A man in Pinellas County, previously convicted for a child sex offense, has been indicted on charges of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. The United States Attorney's Office announced that Joshua Andrew Finley, 46, of St. Petersburg, the individual in question, is facing serious federal charges after an indictment was returned against him, as per a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Finley, who in 2009 was convicted of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, could now potentially face life in federal prison along with a possible life term of supervised release. He is being held in custody ahead of his trial, which is to be held in December 2024. "Using the internet to attempt to entice a minor child to engage in sexual activity," as the indictment charges, marks a grievous misuse of digital space to perpetrate alleged abuse, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Several law enforcement agencies came together to investigate this case, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, St. Petersburg Police Department, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, and the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown will lead the prosecution. It is important to remember, however, despite the severity of the allegations, an indictment is not a verdict of guilt—this formal charge warrants a trial, where Finley is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.
The case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the exploitation and abuse of children. Since 2006, it has aimed to closely coordinate amongst federal, state, and local law enforcement to locate and prosecute offenders, and just as critical, to identify and assist victims. For more information on these efforts, the Department of Justice encourages the public to visit their Project Safe Childhood site.
