Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison for Physically and Sexually Assaulting Two Minors While Serving Abroad
Thursday, September 10, 2026 - Adam Schlueter, 40, of Atlanta, was sentenced today to life in prison and lifetime supervised release for physically and sexually assaulting two minors under the age of 10.
According to evidence presented at trial, Schlueter was stationed in Grafenwöhr, Germany, while a member of the Army from 2009 until 2013. While there, he physically, emotionally, and sexually abused two minor victims. During trial testimony, both minors described being choked and beaten by Schlueter, among others form of egregious physical abuse. One minor described, at age eight, being pushed through a second-story window and dangled above the ground. Schlueter sexually assaulted both minors when they were under the age of 10. Schlueter also employed threats to prevent his victims and other witnesses from disclosing the abuse to authorities, going so far as to threaten to kill one witness. A federal jury in the Northern District of Georgia convicted Schlueter on April 20.
“Adam Schlueter betrayed the honor and duty that comes with serving in the U.S. military,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. “There is nothing honorable about subjecting the most vulnerable in our community to violence and sexual exploitation. We are grateful for the strength and courage of the survivors in this case who came forward to end this man’s reign of terror.”
“Through his years of sickening abuse, Schlueter betrayed the uniform of the U.S. Army and inflicted unimaginable harm on defenseless children,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “Today’s sentence underscores that we always stand ready — even years later and on the other side of an ocean — to vindicate the victims of such crimes and ensure justice is served.”
“Schlueter’s horrific abuse inflicted lasting trauma on children who should have been protected from harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “The FBI will continue to pursue those who prey upon children and hold them accountable for their crimes, no matter how much time has passed. We hope today’s sentence brings a measure of justice to the victims and reinforces that we will never stop fighting to protect children.”
The FBI Atlanta Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leanne Marek for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case. CEOS Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew LaGrone for the Northern District of Georgia provided valuable assistance.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
Source: Justice.gov
