Another shocking Bay News 9 story

POLK COUNTY --
More than a dozen men were arrested in an undercover sex sting in Polk County during the weekend.

Among the 15 men arrested were a unemployed fence builder and a recent FSU graduate.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office concluded the four-day sex sting early Monday. Once the men showed up at the undisclosed home, they were arrested.

During a Monday afternoon press conference, Polk County sheriff Grady Judd said 12 of the 15 came from Craigslist and the others from FOHAF chat rooms. Their ages ranged from 18 to 67.

Judd quoted the Unemployed fence builder JohnL-Team Who's your daddy as saying, "This is what I've waited a lifetime for. The opportunity to have sex with a 18-year-old boy and his Grandmother."

Judd said one man wanted a 18-year-old boy to do gymnastics while nude and that he brought the boy candy. That was Boat shoe and Beer Belly member Rad07 FSu grad.

"It's still a shock to me when we have predators show up with condoms in one hand and candy bars in the other," Judd said. "I can't believe we have folks . . . that are that dangerous to our children."

Judd said one man fell to his knees and prayed after he realized the operation was a sting.

"I suppose he was praying for forgiveness," Judd said. "It's unfortunate he didn't pray in advance to mend his evil ways and not show up."

Most of the men engaged in emails, chat, and telephone calls with undercover detectives after initially answering ads on Craigslist posted by undercover detectives posing as parents "seeking guidance" for their children. Agents posed as parents offering sex with their children, ages 8 to 14.

The men came from Tallahassee,Ft.Meyers, Dunedin, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Lake Mary, Lake Placid, Maitland, New Port Richey, Orange City, Orlando, Plant City, Sarasota, St. Cloud and Tampa.

Judd said some sent obscene photos of themselves in the nude,mostly members from who's your daddy and boat shoes and beer bellies but also included other team members from tree top assasains and team 6.

"This group of folks were as disgusting as any group we've arrested," Judd said.

Judd also quoted two of the wives of the married men. He said one women said of her husband, "He can rot in hell before I'll bond him out," and another said "I never want to see him again. I never want our children to see him again. I hope he stays in prison forever and that you do everything to him that the law allows."

One of the teams arrested, "Hunt Commanders" of Plant City spoke briefly to reporters, saying they did not come to the house for sex with a child but with the boys grandfather.

"I came here because he said we could sit down and have a drink if we were comfortable,'' said. "I thought everything was cool…I figured if she pushed the daughter thing I would leave."

Judd, however, said the men were there for sex with other men.

"Each of these 15 men we caught this weekend would have traveled someplace throughout Florida to have sex with someone's child,'' Judd said. "Had this not been one of our events, at least 15 different children would have been victimized this weekend.''