Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Robert Lee Johnson, III., aged 39, has been formally charged with six counts related to the production of child pornography, according to an announcement by John P. Heekin, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. This indictment was issued by a federal grand jury.

Johnson, III. recently faced arraignment in front of United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. His trial by jury is slated for April 8, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., presided over by Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor, also in Gainesville.

Should he be found guilty, Johnson could face a minimum prison sentence of 15 years, with the possibility of up to 30 years for each count.

Initial Arrest Details

The case against Johnson began with his arrest on September 17, 2025, following a report from the victim. She revealed that she had been involved in a sexual relationship with Johnson over a period of four years, beginning when she was just 14. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office investigation revealed incidents of sexual activity at Johnson’s home and various hotels, with Johnson capturing video footage on at least two occasions.

State charges of sexual battery of a minor, lewd and lascivious battery of a minor, and directing the sexual performance of a child were filed, along with a sworn complaint alleging 20 additional charges related to sexual battery and child pornography. The federal indictment is for six counts of production of child pornography.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.