Crime & Safety
Undercover Sting Nets Child Solicitation Arrest, Sheriff Says
A 41-year-old man was arrested and charged with traveling to meet and have sex with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
A 41-year-old man was arrested Friday for allegedly soliciting sex with a teen girl in a Manatee County Sheriff's Office undercover operation, officials said.
A sheriff’s detective posed as a 14-year-old girl and began chatting with the suspect, Marcelino Jayer Esquivel, online, authorities report.
“As (the) online conversation continued, the suspect steered the conversation towards sex and eventually asked who he thought was the 14 year old if she wanted to engage in sexual acts,” according to the news release.
Arrangements were made to meet in the Sweetbay parking lot at 5805 Manatee Ave. W., authorities said.
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Esquivel was arrested on the charges of traveling to meet a minor and engage in sexual acts, use of a computer to solicit a minor to engage in sexual acts and attempted lewd and lascivious battery, according to the sheriff’s office.
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