GAINESVILLE, Florida - A federal judge has scheduled a January trial for a Youngstown man accused of producing child pornography in Florida earlier this year.

Ronald Pate Newman, 26, entered a not guilty plea to three counts of production of child pornography during an arraignment hearing held last month before a U.S. Magistrate in Gainesville.

According to court records, jury selection and the trial are scheduled to begin on Jan. 14, 2026, before Chief District Court Judge Allen Winsor.

Newman waived his right to a detention hearing during his appearance and was ordered to remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.

The charges stem from an indictment filed in August alleging that Newman produced sexually explicit images or videos of a minor on March 23, 24, and 28, 2025. While Newman resides in Youngstown, the alleged crimes occurred within the Northern District of Florida.

Newman was arrested in Youngstown on Oct. 7 and held in the Mahoning County jail before being transferred to federal custody in Florida.

If convicted, Newman faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, with a maximum penalty of 30 years for each count.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Levy County Sheriff’s Office as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative combating child sexual exploitation.

Newman is represented by the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Gainesville.