Undercover deputies in Lake County have arrested 22 men in an underage sex sting, including three employees at Walt Disney World, and one man who brought a Happy Meal with him to meet what he thought was a girl between 12 and 14 years old.
The list of suspects arrested in what Sheriff Gary Borders called "Operation Be Mine" -- just in time for Valentine's Day -- also included a man who worked at a miniature golf course, a paramedic, and a member of the National Guard.
A Walt Disney World spokesperson told News 13 the three employees arrested in the sting have been placed on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
"I've got a condom in my back pocket," one man was heard saying on surveillance video from the scene. He was one of the nearly two dozen men caught by surprise as they arrived at a home expecting to meet an underage girl for sex, only to find deputies in uniform waiting for them.
Another man brought a bag filled with candy bars, beer and male sexual enhancement pills.
Sheriff Borders said the men were prowling Facebook and other websites that are popular among underage children.
"We encourage them to know where they are going online, what sites they are visiting," said Borders. "We want them to have a relationship where the child feels comfortable enough to tell them if someone is contacting them online. And then, of course, we want them to contact us."
The investigation has also led to additional charges for one Lake County man: David Griffith of Minneola, whom detectives said was trying to meet what turned out to be a real 7-year-old for sex in another county.
The 22 men face up to five years in prison each if convicted.
22 arrested in Operation Be Mine
Source: Lake County Sheriff's Office
Arrest No. 1
- Name: Soto-Rossi, Marcos
- Case Number: 140014917
- Arrestee Age: 30
- Child Age: 14
- Location Traveled From: Clermont, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: Condom
- Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery, Soliciting a Minor
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Tiger Direct in Altamonte Springs, FL
- Vehicle Seized: 2005 Toyota Corolla
Arrest No. 2
- Name: Hughes, Joey
- Case Number: 140014918
- Arrestee Age: 31
- Child Age: 14
- Location Traveled From: Lakeland, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Premier Transportation--Truck driver
Arrest No. 3
- Name: Baker, Brian
- Case Number: 140014919
- Arrestee Age: 25
- Child Age: 13
- Location Traveled From: Maitland, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Terry Plumbing Asheboro, NC
Arrest No. 4
- Name: Griffith, David
- Case Number: 140014920
- Arrestee Age: 47
- Child Age: 13
- Location Traveled From: Minneola, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
- Additional' Charges: Transmission Harmful Materials to a Minor (two counts), Procuring a minor for prostitution
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: CTDI
Arrest No. 5
- Name: Edge, Tyler
- Case Number: 140014921
- Arrestee Age: 23
- Child Age: 14
- Location Traveled From: Kissimmee, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: Knife and condom
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Abuelos (Restaurant)
Arrest No. 6
- Name: Roach, Ryan
- Case Number: 140014922
- Arrestee Age: 25
- Child Age: 14
- Location Traveled From: Sorrento, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: IGA Grocery Sorrento, FL
- Vehicle Seized: 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
Arrest No. 7
- Name: Vorobets, Alexander
- Case Number: 140014923
- Arrestee Age: 27
- Child Age: 13
- Location Traveled From: Orlando, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: Happy meal from McDonalds, condoms
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Rachel's Strip Club Orlando, FL
Arrest No. 8
- Name: Samaroo, Paul
- Case Number: 140014924
- Arrestee Age: 31
- Child Age: 13
- Location Traveled From: Ocoee, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: Condoms
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Sysco Orlando, FL
Arrest No. 9
- Name: Kingsolver, Robert
- Case Number: 140014925
- Arrestee Age: 49
- Child Age: 14
- Location Traveled From: Clermont, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Walt Disney World
Arrest No. 10
- Name: Dupler, Troy Allen
- Case Number: 140014926
- Arrestee Age: 43
- Child Age: 13
- Location Traveled From: Clermont, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Hair Salon Owner
Arrest No. 11
- Name: Penny, David REGISTERED SEXUAL OFFENDER IN LAKE COUNTY
- Case Number: 140014927
- Arrestee Age: 32
- Child Age: 13
- Location Traveled From: N/A
- Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Failure to Report Email Account Information
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Precision Landscape Management Clermont, FL
Arrest No. 12
- Name: Holgerson, Patrick
- Case Number: 140014928
- Arrestee Age: 32
- Child Age: 13
- Location Traveled From: Clermont, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
- Charges: Solicit Parent/Guardian, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Solicit Guardian for Consent to Commit
- Additional Charges: Sex Acts with Child through Assignation, Fail to Disclose HIV Status to Sexual Partner
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Walt Disney World
Arrest No. 13
- Name: Torres, Joel
- Case Number: 140014929
- Arrestee Age: 32
- Child Age: 14
- Location Traveled From: Apopka, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: Condoms
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Walt Disney World
Arrest No. 14
- Name: Will, Aaron
- Case Number: 140014931
- Arrestee Age: 23
- Child Age: 14
- Location Traveled From: Largo, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: National Guard and Holiday Inn
Arrest No. 15
- Name: Jobe, Nasib
- Case Number: 140014932
- Arrestee Age: 39
- Child Age: 14
- Location Traveled From: Ocala, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: 4 candy bars, Beer, male enhancement pill and other items
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery,
- Charges Cont'd: Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Jobe Trucking Ocala, FL
- Vehicle Seized: 2005 Lexus IS 300
Arrest No. 16
- Name: Alavarez, Angel Eduardo
- Case Number: 140014933
- Arrestee Age: 29
- Child Age: 16
- Location Traveled From: Clermont, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: 3 condoms, cigarettes, marijuana , two necklaces
- Charges: Solicit Child, Traveling to meet a Minor, Procuring person under 18 for prostitution, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, contributing to delinquency of a minor
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: South Lake Computers Clermont, FL
Arrest No. 17
- Name: Ovanounou, Ariel
- Case Number: 140014934
- Arrestee Age: 20
- Child Age: 14
- Location Traveled From: Orlando, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: 3 condoms
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: American Air Quality--AC Repair
Arrest No. 19
- Name: Dove, Mathew
- Case Number: 140014936
- Arrestee Age: 20
- Child Age: 14
- Location Traveled From: Groveland, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: 2 condoms
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Wal-Mart
Arrest No. 20
- Name: Parker, David Earl
- Case Number: 140014938
- Arrestee Age: 43
- Child Age: 14
- Location Traveled From: Brycesville, FL (Nassau County)
- Items Arrestee Brought: Three condoms
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Napco (1-800 Flowers Vendor)
Arrest No. 21
- Name: Jimenez, Adam Michael
- Case Number: 140014939
- Arrestee Age: 25
- Child Age: 14
- Location Traveled From: Kissimmee, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts (two counts), Traveling to meet a Minor
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Put-Put Golf
Arrest No. 22
- Name: Sullivan, Nathan Taylor
- Case Number: 140014940
- Arrestee Age: 22
- Child Age: 14
- Location Traveled From: Webster, FL
- Items Arrestee Brought: Condoms
- Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
- Arrestee's Reported Employer: Owns a towing business