A St. Johns County elementary school teacher and a registered sex offender from Georgia are among 21 men arrested during a recent online child-sex sting conducted by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Mike Williams announced the results from Operation Watchdog Monday, saying all of the arrests were made in Jacksonville.
“We had suspects travel from as far north as Snellville, Georgia, and as far south as Silver Springs, Florida, to meet with who they believed to be a 13- or 14-year-old boy or girl for a sexual encounter," Williams said. "The suspects range in age from 21 to 61 years of age.”
Operation Watchdog took place from Wed., May 3, through Mon., May 8.
Williams says all of those arrested face felony charges associated with using the internet to solicit a minor child for sex.
Contact reporter Cyd Hoskinson at choskinson@wjct.org, 904-358-6351 and on Twitter @cydwjctnews.