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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

alleged sexual exploitation

Trial scheduled for Red Deer man charged in Florida

Mar 26, 2025 | 1:12 PM

A Red Deer man is to stand trial this June in Florida.

As rdnewsNOW reported previously, James Hjelmeland, 30, was charged in February 2025, on four counts related to alleged sexual exploitation.

The charges are:

• One count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity
• Two counts of distributing, one count of transporting
• One count of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM)

Hjelmeland’s home in Red Deer was searched Jan. 24, the same day he was arrested in Florida.

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This all stemmed from an investigation involving an undercover detective with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, who posed as the guardian of a 12-year-old in a chat — allegedly with Hjelmeland — on Dec. 29, 2024.

Hjelmeland is said to have messaged the undercover detective and inquired about the age of the “child.”

It’s alleged he then 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, it’s said, Hjelmeland distributed CSAM to the detective; furthermore, when he was arrested in Orlando on Jan. 24, there was, allegedly, CSAM on his mobile device involving children under the age of 12.

If convicted, Hjelmeland faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for the attempted offense; a minimum of five years, up to 20 years, in federal prison for each distribution and transportation offense; and up to 20 years in federal prison for the possession offense.

Hjelmeland appeared before a judge in Orlando on March 20, who scheduled his trial to begin June 2.

The accused remains in custody, a spokesperson with the United States Attorney’s Office confirms.

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READ MORE: Red Deer man facing child exploitation charges in Florida

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