(NewsReady.com) – Grady Judd, sheriff of Polk County, Florida, has no love for criminals within his jurisdiction. Last year, former President Donald Trump appointed him to the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for his work protecting children. A recent sting in his county once again nabbed people who allegedly wanted to hurt children.
On Tuesday, August 3, Judd announced his department had arrested 17 people in a child sex sting. Undercover agents involved in “Operation Child Protector” posed as children between the ages of 13 and 14 on social media, online dating sites, and apps. They spoke to the suspects and set up times to meet with them for sexual relations.
Sheriff Judd is briefing the media about Operation Child Protector, a 6 day long investigation focusing on those who prey upon children online with @Auburndalegov Chief Andy Ray & @WHPoliceDept Dir Charlie Bird. Read https://t.co/rLSq65y6DQ & watch on https://t.co/rKNE28jFQl pic.twitter.com/zketpzki7b
— Polk County Sheriff 🚔 (@PolkCoSheriff) August 3, 2021
According to Judd, police have charged the suspects with 2 misdemeanors and 49 felony charges. Three Disney World employees and one registered nurse were among those arrested.
Savannah Lawrence, 29, and her boyfriend Jonathan McGrew, 34, are both custodians at the theme park. They tried to meet with a detective they thought was 13 years old to have a threesome. The other Disney employee, Kenneth Javier Aquino, 26, met with an undercover deputy he thought was a 13-year-old, too. He works as a lifeguard and has a pregnant girlfriend.
Multiple area police departments aided the Polk County Sheriff’s Department in the capture of the alleged criminals. Disney has not commented on the arrests.
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