Red Deer man sentenced in Florida for child sexual exploitation crimes
Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, March 25, 2026
A Red Deer man who travelled to Florida to have sex with who he thought was a 12-year-old child has been sentenced to more than 17 years in a U.S. prison.
James Hjelmeland, 30, pleaded guilty last November to charges of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and distributing, transporting, and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
He was sentenced on March 18 by U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza to 17 1/2 years in federal prison.
According to court documents, on Dec. 29, 2024, an undercover detective with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office posed as the guardian of a fictional 12-year-old child.
“Hjelmeland engaged in sexually explicit conversation with the undercover detective and made plans to travel from Canada to Orlando to have sex with the child. During the conversation, Hjelmeland distributed CSAM to the undercover detective.”
When Hjelmeland was arrested in Orlando, he had sexual abuse material involving a child under the age of 12 on a cellphone he had brought with him.
“The co-operation demonstrated by local, federal, and international agencies in this case affirms a commitment by our law enforcement partners to protect children from exploitation and harm,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe in a statement.
“Because of their diligence and shared expertise, another child predator has been brought to justice.”
A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officer said that “protecting our children is a fundamental responsibility of law enforcement. By taking these sexual predators off the streets, we are safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Jacksonville, Florida Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker.
“HSI is fully committed to working with our law enforcement partners to seek out those who would exploit children, bring them to justice, and ensure the continued safety of our children.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Team with Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT).
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nation-wide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The enticement charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The distribution and transportation charges carry sentences of five to 20 years and possession of sexual abuse material is punishable up to 20 years.
