Convicted St. Petersburg sex offender charged in alleged online solicitation of minor

Joshua Andrew Finley, a 46-year-old from St. Petersburg, is facing federal charges after being indicted for allegedly attempting to use the Internet to entice a minor into sexual activity. As announced by U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg, Finley, who is also a previously convicted child molester, could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life in federal prison if convicted on the current charges. The charges were made public yesterday, following an extensive investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and local police departments.

According to the details in the Department of Justice announcement, the charge is not an indication of guilt, but a formal accusation suggesting that Finley may have committed this serious federal crime. Further reports indicate that he is currently in custody, with his trial scheduled for December 2024. As such, his innocence must be presumed until his trial and until proven guilty.

This serious charge against Finley adds to his existing criminal history, which includes a 2009 conviction for interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual acts with a minor. The cooperation between federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, underscores the joint efforts to strictly enforce the law, particularly when it comes to crimes against children.

The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. This effort not only seeks to prosecute perpetrators, but also to rescue and support victims. By pooling federal, state, and local resources, significant progress continues to be made in this ongoing fight for the safety and well-being of our society’s most vulnerable members. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit the Department of Justice website.