70-year-old Alabama man convicted in Pensacola in online child enticement sting

PENSACOLA, Fla. — A 70-year-old Robertsdale, Alabama, man was found guilty by a federal jury in Pensacola after prosecutors said he tried to entice a child online and then traveled to meet the child for sex in Pensacola.

David A. Girard was convicted in federal court of attempted enticement of a minor, traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of illicit sexual conduct, and committing a felony involving a minor while being a registered sex offender, according to the release.

The release states that Evidence at trial showed that in October 2025, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and other law enforcement partners conducted an undercover operation aimed at identifying people soliciting minors online for sex.

On Oct. 17, 2025, Girard began communicating with someone he believed was a 14-year-old child, according to trial evidence.

Prosecutors said he described sexual acts he wanted to perform and arranged a meeting location in Pensacola.

When Girard traveled to the agreed-upon location to meet the purported child, he was arrested, according to the release.

Electronic evidence seized under a search warrant confirmed Girard had communicated with the person he believed was a child and traveled to meet him, according to trial evidence.

Girard faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison on Count 1, and up to 30 years in prison on Count 2.

He also faces a mandatory 10-year prison term on Count 3, consecutive to any sentence imposed on Count 1.

The investigation involved the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Highway Patrol, and the U.S. Marshals Service.