FL Official Accused Of Sending Nudes To IL Child

FORT PIERCE, FL — An elected official from Florida solicited and sent sexually explicit messages to a 12-year-old Evanston, Illinois, girl for over a year, according to law enforcement officials.

The man, identified as 38-year-old Fort Pierce City Commissioner James A. Taylor, was arrested on July 24 and charged last week with 24 criminal counts:

• six counts of transmission of materials harmful to minors by electronic device or equipment
• six counts of transfer or display of obscenity to a minor
• six counts of harmful communication to a minor
• four counts of lewd computer solicitation
• two counts of solicitation of transmission of child pornography by electronic device or equipment

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order to remove Taylor from office as he sat in jail.

According to the executive order, Taylor began communicating with the girl on June 28, 2024, through Snapchat.

The girl's mother notified the Evanston (Illinois) Police Department that her daughter was receiving messages from a man, and the investigation began in August 2024. Law enforcement said the conversations grew increasingly sexually explicit over time, and Taylor eventually sent nude photos of himself.

According to law enforcement officials in Florida, Taylor also solicited nude photos from the girl.

Taylor made his first court appearance on July 25 and remains in jail in Florida with his bond set at $360,000.

Reporting by Illinois Patch Editor Rachel Barnes.

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