A 50-year-old Oregon man was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in federal prison for an online sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl in Sarasota. Aleksandr Golovchenko pleaded guilty in April to three counts of child sexual abuse material and two counts of enticement of a minor. He’ll also serve lifetime supervised release once his prison term ends.
According to investigators, Golovchenko met the girl online in 2025 and pressured her through Snapchat. The case broke open because a teacher at the girl’s school reported the relationship to the Florida Abuse Hotline. That single call triggered an investigation by the Sarasota Police Department and the FBI, which uncovered explicit photos and videos, and the case was handled as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative aimed at protecting children from online exploitation.
For families across the Suncoast, this case is a reminder that online predators don’t need to be local. Golovchenko lived clear across the country and still reached a child in our community through an app many kids use every day. The Florida Abuse Hotline is 1-800-962-2873, and reports can be made anonymously. Have you talked with your kids or grandkids about who they’re connecting with online? Let us know in the comments.
