Guilty Man Brought Lube, 2 Lollipops For Sex With A 5 Year Old

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A 33-year-old St. Petersburg man who pleaded guilty to child sex abuse charges after meeting a 5-year-old for sex was sentenced Wednesday to prison, according to the U.S. State's Attorney's Office.

Eric James Templeton thought he had interacted with a mother online for sexual arrangements with her child May 19 through May 21, 2020, according to police. He told the mother—an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent—his desires to take advantage of her child.

He met with the mother and child at an undisclosed location in Tampa May 21, 2020, court documents said. HSI agents arrested him on attempted child sex abuse charges when he arrived to meet the minor. Officials said they found personal lubricant and two lollipops on Templeton.

Templeton pleaded guilty to the charges March 9.

A judge in Tampa sentenced him to 15 years in federal prison for attempting to entice and meet a 5-year-old for sex. In addition, he will have to register as a sex-offender for the remainder of his life. He will also serve a 15-year term of supervised release and pay $11,700 in restitution, authorities said.

“Thanks to the partnership between HSI special agents and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, this child predator will now be behind bars,” HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs said.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.