| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: CORNELL, CHRISTOPHER 0283 (AR12-1657) THE DEFENDANT DID KNOWINGLY USE AN ON-LINE EMAIL SERVICE TO SEDUCE, SOLICIT, LURE OR ENTICE OR ATTEMPT TO SEDUCE, SOLICIT, LURE OR ENTICE A CHILD TO COMMIT ANY ILLEGAL ACT, TO WIT: SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, ANAL INTERCOURSE AND ORAL SEX, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 847.0135(3)(A) AND THE DEFENDANT DID TRAVEL ANY DISTANCE WITHER WITHIN THIS STATE, TO THIS STATE OR FROM THIS STATE BY ANY MEANS TO SEDUCE, SOLICIT, LURE OR ENTICE A CHILD OR ANOTHER PERSON BELIEVED BY THE PERSON TO BE A CHILD TO ENGAGE IN AMU ILLEGAL ACT OR TO OTHERWISE ENGAGE IN OTHER UNLAWFUL SEXUAL ACTIVITY, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 847.0135(4)(A) AND THE DEFENDANT DID DRIVE A MOTOR VEHICLE UPON A HIGHWAY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITHOUT HAVING A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE AUTHORIZING HIM TO DO SO, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE NUMBER 322.03(1). ON 062012, 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 062012 DEPUTY WRIGHT, A SWORN OFFICER WITH THE CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFFâS OFFICE, WAS ASSISTING IN THE UNDERCOVER OPERATION AND POSTED AN ON-LINE ADVERTISEMENT ON THE INTERNET WHICH WAS TITLED "HOME ALONE-W4M" AND STATED "MY PARENTS ARE GONE FOR A FEW DAYS AND IâM LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO HANG OUT WITHâ¦..â. ON 062012 AT APPROXIMATELY 1805 HOURS, THE DEFENDANT UTILIZED AN ON-LINE EMAIL SERVICE TO RESPOND TO THE ADVERTISEMENT. THE DEFENDANT PROVIDED HIS CELL PHONE NUMBER AND ASKED IF SHE COULD COME TO OCALA. DEPUTY WRIGHT IMMEDIATELY REPLIED THAT SHE WAS 12 YEARS OLD AND COULD NOT DRIVE. DEPUTY WRIGHT ALSO USED A FALSE NAME DURING THESE CONVERSATIONS. THE DEFENDANT RESPONDED AND SAID THAT THE CHILD WAS TOO YOUNG. THE DEFENDANT CONTINUED TO SEND EMAILS TO THE DEPUTY POSING AS THE 12 YEAR OLD GIRL AND REQUESTED A PICTURE. DEPUTY WRIGHT SENT THE DEFENDANT A PICTURE OF CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFFâS OFFICE EMPLOYEE WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG AND HAD PROVIDED PERMISSION TO USE HER PICTURE IN THESE UNDERCOVER ON-LINE INVESTIGATIONS. AFTER THE DEFENDANT RECEIVED THE PICTURE HE ASKED FOR A BODY PICTURE, NOT JUST A FACE PICTURE LIKE WHAT HE WAS SENT. HE SAID THAT HE WANTED TO SEE A BODY PICTURE BECAUSE HE WANTED TO SEE WHAT HE WAS WORKING WITH. AS THEIR ON-LINE CONVERSATIONS CONTINUED, THE DEFENDANT WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD DO WHEN THEY MET. IT WAS THEN DECIDED TO TALK FURTHER ON THE PHONE. THE DEFENDANT PROVIDED HIS CELL PHONE NUMBER AND ASKED FOR THE CHILD TO CALL HIM. DURING THE TELEPHONE CONVERSATION, THE DEFENDANT AND DEPUTY WRIGHT, POSING AS THE 12 YEAR OLD CHILD, DISCUSSED WHAT THE DEFENDANT WOULD DO TO THE CHILD SEXUALLY, TO INCLUDE HAVING SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, ANAL SEX, AND EXPRESSED INTEREST OF HAVING THE CHILD PERFORM ORAL SEX ON HIS PENIS. THE DEFENDANT ALSO ASKED THE CHILD SEVERAL QUESTIONS ON HER PAST SEXUAL EXPERIENCES. THE DEFENDANT THEN REQUESTED DIRECTIONS TO THE CHILDâS RESIDENCE, AT WHICH TIME HE WAS GIVEN AN ADDRESS TO AN UNDERCOVER LOCATION IN CITRUS COUNTY, FLORIDA. AFTER THE DEFENDANT DROVE TO THE UNDERCOVER LOCATION, HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY SHERIFFâS OFFICE PERSONNEL. THE DEFENDANT WAS INTERVIEWED AND POST MIRANDA, ADMITTED HE DROVE TO THE UNDERCOVER LOCATION TO MEET A 12 YEAR OLD CHILD FOR SEXUAL ACTIVITY. THE DEFENDANT ALSO ADMITTED THAT HE NEVER HAD A VALID LICENSE IN FLORIDA OR ANY OTHER STATE. THE DEFENDANT SAID THAT THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE RECORDED WERE ACCURATE AND THAT THE EMAIL ACCOUNT HE WAS USING WAS HIS. THE DEFENDANT WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF USING THE INTERNET TO SEDUCE, SOLICIT, LURE OR ENTICE A CHILD ON-LINE FOR SEXUAL ACTIVITY; ONE COUNT OF TRAVELING TO MEET A MINOR FOR SEXUAL ACTIVITY; AND ONE COUNT OF DRIVING WITH NO LICENSE. THE DEFENDANT WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY WITHOUT INCIDENT. PRE-TRIAL RELEASE CONDITIONS THE HONORABLE JUDGE THOMAS HAS ORDERED THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS OF PRE-TRIAL RELEASE: 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. AS A CONDITION OF PRE-TRIAL RELEASE, THE COURT SHALL ORDER THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL CONDITIONS: DEFENDANT MAY NOT HAVE CONTACT WITH ANY CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS. DEFENDANT MAY NOT POSSESS OR UTILIZE ANY COMPUTERS OR ELECTRONIC DEVICES CAPABLE OF CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET. \t2. NO JUDGE CONDUCTING FIRST APPEARANCE IS AUTHORIZED TO REDUCE BONDS IMPOSED UNDER 847.0135 AND/OR 847.0138 FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS OPERATION BETWEEN JUNE 19-25, 2012. \t THE DEFENDANTâS BOND WAS SET AT A TOTAL OF $50,500.00, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOND SCHEDULE. |
