Florida man accused of sending sexual photos to Dothan child
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) — A Pensacola man is behind bars in Houston County after investigators alleged he sent several explicit photos of himself to a Dothan child after a phone number mixup.
Charles Micheal Schmaltz, of Pensacola, is charged with 11 counts of transmitting obscene material to a minor and one count of electronic solicitation of a child.
According to Dothan Police, on April 24, a child under 12 in Dothan tried to contact a family member via text; however, the phone number they texted no longer belonged to the family member and instead was now Schmaltz’s, who immediately sent an obscene photo of himself to the minor.
Dothan Police spokesperson Lt. Scott Owens says after the minor told Schmaltz they were underage, he continued to send photos, and the minor reported it to the police.
Lt. Owens tells WDHN that throughout the investigation, Schmaltz continually sent obscene photos and tried to solicit the minor for sexual acts.
On Tuesday, April 30, authorities in Escambia County, Florida, arrested Schmaltz at his home in Pensacola, and he was transported to Dothan to face the charges. He is being held in the Houston County Jail with a $330,000 bond on the 11 counts of transmitting obscene material to a minor and no bond for the one count of electronic solicitation of a child.
Due to the victim’s age and the sensitive nature of the investigation, police have released no further information.
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