Former Evolve Bank CEO Expected to Plead Guilty in Federal Child Exploitation Case
Robert “Bob” Hartheimer, the former chief executive officer of Evolve Bank, is expected to plead guilty next month to federal charges involving child exploitation, according to a court filing released this week.
Hartheimer was arrested in October following an undercover federal investigation. Prosecutors allege that FBI agents, posing as a 15-year-old boy on the dating app Grindr, exchanged messages with Hartheimer in which he agreed to meet. Court documents state that the conversations later escalated, with Hartheimer requesting a video chat and discussing explicit sexual activity.
Federal prosecutors say Hartheimer is expected to plead guilty in January 2026 to two charges: attempting to produce child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor.
If the plea agreement is accepted by the court, Hartheimer could face a sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison on the attempted production charge. The filing notes that prior qualifying convictions could result in a life sentence. The coercion and enticement charge carries a possible sentence ranging from 10 years to life in prison.
Action News 5 contacted Hartheimer’s attorney, Blake Ballin, for comment. Ballin declined to comment at this time. Hartheimer’s plea hearing is scheduled for January 5 in federal court.
