FORT MYERS, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Thursday that his office has been involved in more than 2,000 child predator arrests since he took office in February 2025, highlighting three recent cases investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The arrests include a Lee County middle school science teacher accused of possessing child sexual abuse material, a Sarasota man accused of similar offenses and a Zephyrhills man accused of soliciting someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl.
Graham Freeman, 56, of Cape Coral, was arrested Aug. 6 and charged with 10 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and one count involving sexual activity with animals.
“I want to thank Lee County School Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin, because the first individual I’m here to announce today, unfortunately, his name’s Graham Freeman from Cape Coral, and he was a middle school science teacher in Lee County,” Uthmeier said.
WATCH: Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest of a Lee County middle school science teacher accused of possessing child sexual abuse material.@AGJamesUthmeier: “I don’t think we’d even finished getting the words out over the phone before the school district… pic.twitter.com/u73Eq4yPeq
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) August 13, 2026
Uthmeier said the district “snapped into action” after being notified and removed Freeman from a position where he could have contact with students. Carlin said Freeman was removed from the classroom, barred from district property and recommended for termination.
Uthmeier also warned about predators using social media, gaming applications and other online platforms to target minors.
“They’ll spend weeks or months building a relationship, getting people to drop their guard,” Uthmeier said. “And then they start to solicit videos, imagery, personal information. They extort. They threaten. They demand more.”
NOW: Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office has now been involved in more than 2,000 child predator arrests, warning that suspects are increasingly using social media and online platforms to target minors.@AGJamesUthmeier: “They extort. They threaten. They demand… pic.twitter.com/V8VplyhRoe
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) August 13, 2026
“We’re at 2,000. I hope by next year we’re at 10,000,” he added. “We won’t stop until we get them all and ensure that we are protecting our little ones.”
FDLE Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson also detailed the cases against Jordan Kent Hall, 33, of Sarasota, and Matthew David Peter, 41, of Zephyrhills.
Hall faces 10 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and one count involving sexual activity with animals.
Peter’s case stemmed from an undercover FDLE operation.
“Our agents, acting in an undercover capacity, chatted online with Mr. Peter,” Lawson said. “He was soliciting to try to engage in sexual activity with what he thought was a 13-year-old female. Turned out it was one of our special agents. Thank goodness for that. It wasn’t a real child at this time.”
WATCH: FDLE officials detailed three recent arrests involving child sexual abuse material or alleged online solicitation, including a Zephyrhills man accused of trying to arrange sexual activity with someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl.@fdlepio Special Agent in Charge… pic.twitter.com/ED1q4Ugjyb
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) August 13, 2026
Peter faces charges including soliciting a child for unlawful sexual conduct using computer services, transmission of harmful material to a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony.
Since February 2025, the Office of Statewide Prosecution’s Crimes Against Children efforts have resulted in nearly 693 years in prison sentences, according to the attorney general’s office.
The cases against Freeman and Peter will be prosecuted in the 20th Judicial Circuit, while Hall’s case will be prosecuted in the 12th Judicial Circuit.
