The Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a 12-year prison sentence for a child predator in Orange County. Jarrod Long responded to an online advertisement and began communicating with someone who claimed to be a 13-year-old girl. After being told twice that the defendant was conversing with a minor, Long asked for numerous lewd photographs and made arrangements to meet for sex.
Acting Attorney General John Guard said, “This child predator responded to an ad where he thought he was speaking to a 13-year-old girl and tried to meet up for sex. Thanks to our Office of Statewide Prosecution, this despicable criminal instead will serve a lengthy sentence behind bars.”
An investigation revealed Long first responded to the ad and began chatting with an individual who, about two minutes into the conversation, told the defendant she was a 13-year-old girl. After being told multiple times, Long asked the individual to delete the messages, changed the number he was messaging from and reached back out to the individual — asking for lewd photographs and making arrangements to meet for sex. The investigation came as a result of an FBI Cyber Task Force sting operation.
Long was convicted of use of a computer for child exploitation, solicitation to promote the sexual performance by a child and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. In addition to serving 12 years in prison, Long will also be labeled a sex offender for life.
Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Rebecca Smith-Hameroff prosecuted this case. The Orlando Police Department and the FBI carried out this joint investigation.
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