| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: CORNELL, CHRIS 0283 (AR10117413) ON 101610 THE CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONDUCTED AN ONLINE UNDERCOVER OPERATION TARGETING SUSPECTS THAT USE THE INTERNET TO SEXUALLY EXPLOIT CHILDREN WITH THE INTENTION TO MEET THEM FOR THE PURPOSES OF SEXUAL CONDUCT. ON 101610 DETECTIVE PHIL GRAVES WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHILE ASSISTING IN THIS UNDERCOVER OPERATION, POSTED AN ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT ON THE INTERNET WEB SITE, "CRAIGSLIST.COM". THE ONLINE ADD WAS TITLED, "MOM NEEDING HELP WITH TEEN DAUGHTER" AND IN THE BODY OF THE ADD STATED" IM A SINGLE MOM LOOKING FOR A MAN TO HELP ME TEACH MY DAUGHTER WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A MAN. ONLY SERIOUS REPLIES PLZ". ON 101610 AT APPROXIMATELY 1632 HOURS THE SUSPECT USING THE EMAIL ADDRESS OF [email protected] RESPONDED TO THE ADD IDENTIFYING HIMSELF AS A 27 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALE FROM TAMPA READY TO PLEASE. HE THEN DESCRIBED HIMSELF AND PROVIDED HIS HEIGHT, WEIGHT, HAIR COLOR AND EYE COLOR. THE SUSPECT ALSO SENT TWO PICTURES OF HIMSELF ALONG WITH HIS CELLULAR PHONE NUMBER. DETECTIVE GRAVES RESPONDED BACK AND STATED THAT HE WAS A 34 YEAR OLD MOM WITH A 14 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. HE STATED THAT HE WANTED HER TO LEARN FROM A GOOD MAN AND PROVIDED A PICTURE OF AN AGE REGRESSED FEMALE DEPUTY WHO AGREED TO PROVIDE HER PICTURE FOR UNDERCOVER INTERNET OPERATIONS. THE SUSPECT REPLIED BACK THROUGH EMAIL AND TOLD DETECTIVE GRAVES THAT HE WISHED TO HAVE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH THE CHILD FOR SEVERAL HOURS, MAKING HER SCREAM IN PLEASURE. THE SUSPECT CONFIRMED HER AGE AS 14 AGAIN, AND ASKED FOR MORE PICTURES OF HER. AFTER A SHORT CONVERSATION, THE SUSPECT STATED THAT HE DEFINITELY KNOWS WHAT DETECTIVE GRAVES IS LOOKING FOR AND THAT HE IS LOOKING FOR THIS TO BE VERY DISCREET. THE SUSPECT THEN REQUESTED A TELEPHONE CALL PRIOR TO LEAVING HIS RESIDENCE IN TAMPA. DETECTIVE PRUITT WITH THE CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAD SEVERAL VOICE CONTACTS WITH THE SUSPECT PRIOR TO HIM ARRIVING AT THE PREDETERMINED RESIDENCE IN CITRUS COUNTY. UPON THE SUSPECT'S ARRIVAL, HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. AN INTERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED WITH THE SUSPECT IDENTIFIED AS THE ABOVE DEFENDANT, AT WHICH TIME HE ADMITTED TO TRAVELING FROM TAMPA TO MEET WHO HE THOUGHT WAS A 14 YEAR OLD CHILD AND A 34 YEAR OLD MOTHER FOR SEXUAL ACTIVITY. THE DEFENDANT ALSO BROUGHT CONDOMS WITH HIM FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE DEFENDANT WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF USE OF INTERNET TO SOLICIT OR LURE A CHILD AS DEFINED IN FSS 847.0135(3)(A) , USE OF THE INTERNET TO LURE PARENT/GUARDIAN AS DEFINED IN FSS 847.0135(3)(B), AND ONE COUNT OF TRAVELING TO MEET A MINOR AS DEFINED IN FSS 847.0135(4). THE DEFENDANT WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY WITHOUT INCIDENT. PER HONORABLE JUDGE THOMAS THE DEFENDANT WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING PRE-TRIAL RELEASE CONDITIONS: 1. DEFENDANT MUST POST BOND OF $25,000 PER COUNT UNDER 847.0135 AND/OR 847.0138. ANY OTHER CHARGES WILL HAVE THE STANDARD BOND SET ACCORDING TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER DICTATING THE BOND SCHEDULE FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT. 2. NO JUDGE CONDUCTING FIRST APPEARANCES IS AUTHORIZED TO REDUCE BONDS IMPOSED UNDER 847.0135 AND/OR 847.0138 FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS OPERATION BETWEEN OCTOBER 14-17. 3. DEFENDANT MAY NOT HAVE CONTACT WITH ANY CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS. 4. DEFENDANT MAY NOT POSSESS OR UTILIZE ANY COMPUTERS CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET. BOND IS SET AT $75,000.00 PER THIS BOND SCHEDULE. "If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the ADA Coordinator at the Office of the Trial Court Administrator, Citrus County Courthouse, 110 North Apopka Avenue, Inverness, Florida 34450, Telephone (352) 341-6700, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.” *NOT-EXEMPT* |
