Press Release
CHURCH MUSIC MINISTER SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR ENTICING A CHILD TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY
September 12, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Ken Mascara, Sheriff, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, announced today that defendant Jack Aldrich, of Lake Mary, Florida, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Donald L. Graham to 168 months’ imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
On April 10, 2008, a Ft. Pierce Grand Jury returned an Indictment charging Aldrich with persuading, inducing, enticing or coercing a person under 18 years of age to engage in sexual activity, and attempting to do so, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b).
According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in open court today, Aldrich, former Director of Musical Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Winter Park, entered an internet chat room and began to correspond with an undercover police officer posing as a fifteen year old female. During internet communications, Aldrich repeatedly expressed his desire to engage in sexual activity with the child. Aldrich also sent the minor a web camera so that she could transmit to him images of herself engaging in sexual activity.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rinku Talwar.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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