Fairfield Man Charged with Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Donald Threatt, 67, of Fairfield, charging him with attempted online enticement of a minor, attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, and the commission of an offense involving a minor while required to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Threatt responded to a Craigslist advertisement and began conversing with an individual he believed to be 15 years old through the KIK messenger service. Threatt discussed sexual activity with the individual and arranged to meet the individual at her home after her mother had left for the weekend. Threatt also suggested to the individual that they take photos and a video of the planned sexual activity. Unbeknownst to Threatt, the individual with whom he conversed was actually a law enforcement agent. Threatt was arrested when he drove to the house where the meeting with the minor was to occur.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy J. Kelley and Jill M. Thomas are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Threatt faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison as well as a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.