Michael Belmares, Child Sex Abuse Materials Production, Florida 2024

ORLANDO, Florida – A St. Cloud man has been sentenced to spend the next 25 years behind bars for his role in the production and possession of child sex abuse materials.

United States District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza handed down the sentence to Michael Belmares, 63, after he pleaded guilty to the charges in March 2022.

Belmares was found to have taken explicit photos of a six-year-old child, which were used as evidence in the case. The court also discovered that Belmares had a collection of thousands of images depicting children being sexually abused, including binders of photos dating back to 1996.

The court also noted that Belmares had a prior sex offense conviction in North Carolina in 1996, which enhanced his sentence. Belmares was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and register as a sex offender following his release from prison.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Cloud Police Department, with Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier serving as the prosecutor.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Belmares’ sentence serves as a stark reminder of the severity of child sex abuse crimes and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. The people of Osceola County can rest a little easier knowing that this individual will be behind bars for a long time.

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