WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Twelve people were arrested as part of a two-week child predator investigation in Polk County, the sheriff's office said Friday.
Sheriff Grady Judd detailed their arrests and the resulting 49 felonies during a news conference at 2 p.m.
The sheriff's office, with participation by the Auburndale and Winter Haven police departments, in a news release, stated four people traveled to an undercover location to have sex with who they thought were girls aged 13-15. Detectives posed as children on social media, apps, and online dating sites, the agency said.
Lawrence Neu, 67, Lakeland, FL
- One count of traveling to meet a minor for sex
- One count of attempted lewd battery
- Four counts of transmission of material harmful to a minor
- One count of use of a computer to seduce a child
- One count of use of a computer to misrepresent age and seduce a child
Francis Butler, 62, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
- One count of traveling to meet a minor for sex
- One count of attempted lewd battery
- One count of use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony
Zachary Clark, 26, Tampa, FL
- One count of traveling to meet a minor for sex
- One count of attempted lewd battery
- One count of use of a computer to seduce a child
- One count of use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony
Timothy King, 26, Clermont, FL
- One count of traveling to meet a minor for sex
- One count of attempted lewd battery
- One count of use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony
"They were grooming and doing real nasty things online," Judd said. "All across this neighborhood, this community, this county, this state and as far away on this operation as Michigan and Alabama. We say that we'll chase those child predators to the ends of the earth that want to harm our children, we've done that."
Eight of the 12 had warrants for their arrests after "grooming and sending sexually explicit content" to similarly aged girls. The following men face felony charges of using communication devices to commit a felony, transmission of harmful material to a minor, and/or interference with custody.
- Zachary Hudson, 30, Reunion, FL
- Christopher Sean Velez, 33, Tampa, FL
- Michael Occhino, 57, Kissimmee, FL
- George Elec Matthews, 66, Ozark, AL
- Nando Castellar, 20, Orlando, FL
- Johnny Hughley, 43, Lehigh Acres, FL
- Roger Dennis Fleury, 66, Saint Clair, MI
- Cameron Ohlin, 26, Tallahassee, FL
Those arrested are from Lakeland, Orlando, Palm Beach Gardens, Clermont, Tampa, Kissimmee, Lehigh Acres and Tallahassee, the sheriff's office said. Two more are from Alabama and Michigan.
The youngest person arrested is 20 years old while the oldest is 67, according to the sheriff's office. One of the men arrested was in his Walt Disney World uniform. Another worked as a black hawk helicopter mechanic.
"And I want the parents to understand this: These aren't traditional criminals," Judd said. "Nine of the 12 of these folks don't have a criminal history. Did you hear what I said? Nine of the 12 don't have a criminal history. But what they are doing? These evil people are lurking online and grooming children online to engage them in sexual conduct."
All face various charges including traveling to meet a minor for sex, attempted lewd battery, use of a computer to seduce a child, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony and transmission of material harmful to a child, the agency said.