Two years ago,
No prior record and the lack of actual contact with children often means defendants do not meet the criteria for a harsher sentence.
deputies in Lake and Polk counties arrested 101 people in an operation targeting sex crimes. But only 12 of those arrested up with prison sentences.
Over a 10-day period two years ago, deputies in Lake and Polk counties arrested 101 people in a sweeping operation targeting sex crimes. The charges ranged from offering or soliciting prostitution to traveling to meet a minor for sex.
The arrests, in May of 2015, came with a distinct message.
“This was a warning and a message that we are after these types of people with a vengeance,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a press conference announcing the operation. “If we didn’t get you in this operation, you better be sure we will in the next one. We are after you. Leave our children alone.”
Deputies arrested 22 people as part of the cyber sex crimes component of the operation and another 79 as part of the prostitution operation.
But only 12 of those arrested, all as part of the child endangerment part of the operation, ended up with prison sentences, according to an Orlando Sentinel analysis. Another seven received probation; two were sent to the county jail for sentences shorter than a year; and one was deemed unfit to stand trial. The prostitution phase of the operation produced mostly misdemeanor charges, for which the maximum possible sentence is a year in county jail, not longer prison sentences.
“It’s not unusual for these defendants to be first-time offenders or have no significant record,” said Michael Graves, the elected public defender whose district includes Lake County.
Large-scale operations can present a challenge to public defenders, who suddenly have dozens of new cases, Graves said.
“It ends up having a real significant impact — different, again, depending on the kinds of cases,” Graves said. “Those that are misdemeanor cases have a high but short-term impact. We’re all of a sudden getting 40 cases in at one time.”
No prior record and the lack of actual contact with children often means defendants do not meet the necessary criteria for a harsher sentence. They often do have to register as sex offenders, which can significantly limit where they are allowed to live and work.
“I haven’t seen any empirical studies, but I can tell you that I’ve been around long enough to see a number of these type of sex stings involving the juveniles, and we don’t
see a whole bunch coming back,” Graves said. “Just my experience would indicate that it does have an impact on recidivism.”
The operation was primarily conducted online, records show. Detectives would pose as children, typically between the ages of 10 and 14, and go online to strike up conversations with adults.
Detectives had to be conscious of the limits of the law, as sting operations can fall apart if officers are found to have entrapped defendants.
“They know exactly the parameters that they play within and they are very mindful of those parameters,” said Lt. John Herrell of the Lake County Sheriff ’s Office.
But while some charges were dropped, none of the 22 people arrested in the operation got out without any charges sticking.
“It’s really shocking to see how quickly the conversation turns sexual once the detective enters,” Herrell said. “… These cases are not typically people who are bored and looking online to see what’s out there. Many, many times they actually intend to follow through with what they’re proposing to do.”
Charges included soliciting prostitution, offering prostitution or lewdness, and transporting a person for lewdness — meaning those arrested included accused sex workers, people trying to solicit their services, and possible pimps.
Fewer than two-thirds of the defendants were sentenced to probation, records show. Most were found guilty of at least one charge, primarily as part of a plea.
About 20 percent were sent to jail for a sentence of less than one year.
“The folks that we see becoming involved and getting arrested, and that we end up representing, are from a much broader crosssection of the community than we see in other offenses,” he said. “Teachers, health care workers ... you don’t see that in the sale of drugs and narcotics.”