Savannah Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

SAVANNAH, GA—Robert A. Flaesch, 46, of Savannah, Georgia, entered a guilty plea last week to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor before U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore, Jr. at the U.S. Courthouse in Savannah, Georgia.

United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver said, “This defendant admitted to using a child to produce videos of child pornography. The U.S. Attorney’s Office aggressively prosecutes individuals like this defendant who are involved in the sexual exploitation of children. This prosecution sends a message that we will do all in our power to protect our children from such predatory acts.”

The evidence at Flaesch’s guilty plea hearing showed that between 1998 and 2003, Flaesch was involved in a relationship with the mother of a minor child. He often lived with the mother and child at different locations in the Southern District of Georgia, including Tybee Island and Pooler. During this time, Flaesch hid a video camera at different locations within the residences and filmed the young child in various states of undress. He also crept into the sleeping child’s room and filmed himself engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the minor child. In 2011, the Garden City Police Department was provided with a tape of the videos recorded by Flaesch. The FBI investigated the matter and was able to determine the identity of the child on the videos, who is now an adult. Federal agents arrested Flaesch this year in Detroit, while he was returning from a trip to the Philippines.

Flaesch now faces a maximum of 40 years in prison. Flaesch will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a term of supervised release once released from prison. A sentencing date will be scheduled after the U.S. Probation Office completes a presentence investigation. Flaesch remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending his sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly, Jr. and Jennifer Solari are prosecuting the case for the United States. FBI Special Agent William Kirkconnell investigated the matter. For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.