Attorney General James Uthmeier Announces Conviction for Hillsborough County Predator Who Tried to Pay $300 to Sexually Abuse Underage Girls

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a conviction for Edward Timpson, 33, following a Hillsborough County jury trial. The jury found him guilty on all counts after an undercover operation targeting predators seeking to exploit minors for sexual abuse.

"This predator actively sought to exploit and sexually abuse children and took clear steps to carry out these crimes," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "Thanks to the outstanding work by Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Lauren Rice and Briana Zupko and our law enforcement partners, this dangerous predator was convicted by a jury of this heinous crime."

On May 1, 2024, undercover detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office posted a fictitious escort advertisement online. Timpson responded to the ad and agreed to meet up with two underage girls for $300. Deputies arrested Timpson at the meet-up location.

Timpson was convicted of Solicitation to Commit Human Trafficking of a Minor, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Use of Computer Services or Devices to Solicit Certain Illegal Acts, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device, and Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Conduct.

The jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before returning the verdict.

Timpson faces up to 35 years in Florida's Department of Corrections. His sentencing is scheduled for June 11, 2026.

This case was prosecuted in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit by the Office of Statewide Prosecution.

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