A six-day Sarasota County Sheriff's Office operation, with the assistance of various local police departments and state law enforcement, has led to the arrests of 31 people, according to The Miami Herald. The sting operation aimed to protect Manatee and Sarasota County children from online predators.
All of the 31 suspects had responded to online ads and engaged in sexually explicit verbal and written conversation. They agreed to travel to a secret Sarasota County location for the purpose of having sex with a child or children. (The location will remain secret in order to be used again). When the suspects arrived, they were placed under arrest by detectives. Some of the charges brought against several of the suspects include "use of a computer and traveling to seduce, solicit or entice a child to commit sexual acts."
Sex crimes against children are aggressively prosecuted. At least one of the 31 arrested suspects faces a second-degree felony charge carrying a maximum 15 years in prison. Such consequences can have a significant impact on a person's personal and professional life. They can lose their family, their job, and even be branded a sex offender for the rest of their life. The repercussions of a felony sex crime charge should never be underestimated.
If you have been accused of a child sex crime in Florida, you will be fervently prosecuted. Your best chance to avoid excessive penalties and/or an unjust conviction is by retaining the services of an aggressive Florida criminal defense attorney. The experienced Sarasota County crimes against children defense attorneys at Musca Law have the knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively protect your legal rights. For a confidential consultation, call us today at (888) 484-5057.