| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: SEFFERN, JON 0100 (AR10117433) ON 101710 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 101710 DETECTIVE CALLAHAN WITH THE POLK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS ASSISTING IN THE UNDERCOVER OPERATION AND POSTED SEVERAL ONLINE ADVERTISEMENTS ON THE INTERNET ONLINE SERVICE "CRAIGSLIST" IN REFERENCE TO AN "OPEN MINDED MOM" OR A "SINGLE MOM" LOOKING FOR A MAN TO SHARE INTIMATE FUN. THE ADS WERE PLACED FROM 10/15/10 TO 10/17/10 IN REFERENCE TO THE UNDERCOVER OPERATION TO TARGET SUSPECTS USING THE INTERNET TO SEXUALLY EXPLOIT CHILDREN. ON 101710 AT APPROXIMATELY 19:04 HOURS, THE DEFENDANT UTILIZED AN ONLINE SERVICE TO RESPOND TO ONE OF THE ADVERTISEMENTS. THE DEFENDANT UTILIZED THE EMAIL ADDRESS OF "[email protected]" TO COMMUNICATE WITH DETECTIVE CALLAHAN POSING AS A MOTHER OFFERING HER 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO MEN FOR SEXUAL ACTIVITY. [email protected] WROTE "HEY THERE WHATS GOING ON? I READ YOUR LISTING AND I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET UP WITH YOU AND HAVE SOME FUN. THERE WAS NO REFERENCE TO WHAT LISTING HE WAS REFERENCING. DETECTIVE CALLAHAN RESPONDED TO THE DEFENDANT'S EMAIL AS [email protected] AND REPLIED, “38 YR OLD SINGLE MOM AND DAUGHTER, AGE 12, LOOKING TO SHARE INTIMATE FUN. LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED". ON 10/17/2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 1929 HRS, THE DEFENDANT RESPONDED THAT HE WAS INTERESTED. ON 10/17/2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 1932 HRS, THE DEFENDANT WAS SENT THE UNDERCOVER PICTURE USED AS THE 12 YR OLD ATHENA. THE DEFENDANT WAS ASKED WHAT HE WAS WILLING TO SHOW THE 12 YR OLD AND HE RESPONDED, "WELL I'M WILLING TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH HER." THE DEFENDANT ALSO RESPONDED, " I'D LOVE TO HAVE FUN WITH YOU AND HER TOGETHER. WHEN YOU WANT TO?” ON 10/17/2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 2112 HRS, DETECTIVE CALLAHAN EMAILED THE DEFENDANT AS [email protected] AND ASKED, "AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE INTIMATE WITH ME AND ATHENA OR HELP ME TEACH ATHENA?" DEFENDANT RESPONDED AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 HRS, "WELL WE CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE". ON 10/17/2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 2115 HRS, [email protected] WROTE TO THE DEFENDANT, "I WANT YOU TO HAVE SEX WITH ME AND ATHENA, BUT I WANT YOU TO WANT THAT TOO. DEFEDANT ANSWERED AT ABOUT 2121 HRS, "YEAH I WANT THAT, IT SOUNDS LIKE FUN". THE DEFENDANT ARRIVED AT THE RESIDENCE IN A BLUE 2002 MERCURY PASSENGER CAR AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. HE WALKED UP TO THE FRONT DOOR AND HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE DEFENDANT WAS READ MIRANDA WARNINGS VIA PRE-PRINTED CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AGENCY CARD AND STATED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD AND WISHED TO SPEAK. DETECTIVE CALLAHAN AND DETECTIVE JON SEFFERN CONDUCTED AN AUDIO RECORDED INTERVIEW WITH THE DEFENDANT AT THE UNDERCOVER HOUSE. DURING THE INTERVIEW, THE DEFENDANT ADMITTED HE REPLIED TO A CRAIGSLIST AD AND COMMUNICATED WITH THE MOTHER VIA EMAIL COMMUNICATION AND TRAVELING TO MEET A MOTHER AND HER 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN. THE DEFENDANT WAS ARRESTED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY. 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 "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* |
