Jordan Frederic Schemmel, 37, of Ormond Beach, has pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography over the internet—a crime that exposed a predator hiding in plain sight inside a Jacksonville high school classroom. The former teacher at Terry Parker High School now faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and up to 20 years in federal prison, plus a lifetime of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Court documents reveal the disturbing digital trail Schemmel left behind. On September 5, 2018, using the username “Profsunrise15,” he responded to a message on an online bulletin board known to attract individuals with a sexual interest in children. The message was posted by an undercover FBI agent. What followed was a rapid descent into criminal exchange—Schemmel engaged in explicit chat before sending a video depicting a young child being sexually assaulted by an adult male.
Not stopping there, Schemmel later sent a photo showing similar abuse of a child through a popular social messaging app. Federal agents traced the transmissions back to an IP address linked directly to his home. At the time, Schemmel was employed as a teacher, entrusted with shaping young minds while secretly consuming and sharing their exploitation.
On October 19, 2018, the facade collapsed. FBI agents, working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, executed a search warrant at Schemmel’s residence. During questioning, he admitted to sending the video and confessed he had tried—and failed—multiple times to quit viewing child pornography. His own words painted a picture of compulsion and concealment.
A forensic sweep of his smartphone and a seized thumb drive uncovered the full extent of his collection: 106 images and 28 videos of young children being sexually abused. Each file represents a crime, a victim, a life shattered. The evidence left no room for doubt—Schemmel wasn’t just a passive consumer. He was an active participant in the distribution network of child sexual abuse material.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown as part of Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation. Launched in 2006, the program unites federal, state, and local agencies to hunt down offenders and rescue victims. Schemmel’s sentencing, though not yet scheduled, will serve as a stark reminder: predators behind screens are being tracked, caught, and held accountable.
Related Federal Cases
- Orlando Man Guilty of Distributing Child Pornography · Florida
- Jacksonville Man Sentenced for Receiving Child Pornography · Florida
- Gainesville Teacher Diaz Jailed for 60 Years in Child Porn Case · Florida
- Ray Eugene Collins Convicted of Child Pornography Crimes · Florida
- Ex-Jacksonville Deputy Cuffed in Child Porn Sting · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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