A 62-year-old Florida man was accused of choosing to celebrate his birthday by trying to have sexual relations with a teenage girl.
Anthony Lartrist Petty lives in Seminole, Florida, which is approximately 20 miles away from Tampa. He turned 62 years old on August 21.
On August 18, Petty was reportedly using the mobile messaging app “KIK.”
According to the police, Petty thought he was having a conversation with a 14-year-old girl, but it was really an undercover detective.
It was reported that Petty shared photos of himself with the person he believed was a teenager that were sexual in nature. He also allegedly sent text messages describing specific sexual acts he wanted to perform with the girl if she agreed to meet with him. Petty additionally reportedly sent a video where he was touching himself.
Petty allegedly told the girl that he wanted to meet her at an apartment in St. Petersburg approximately 10 miles from his residence.
When Petty arrived for his alleged meet-up with the teen, the authorities were already at the agreed-upon location.
The police read Petty his Miranda rights, and they reported that the man consented to discussing the situation with them without an attorney present.
The arrest report noted that Petty confessed to sending sexual messages to someone that he thought was age 14 or 15. He also allegedly said he was planning on meeting the girl because he was “trying to celebrate his birthday.”
Petty was booked into the Pinellas County Jail. He may face charges of felony traveling to meet a minor, and felony unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
At the time that this was written, Petty was still incarcerated on a $12,000 bond while he is awaiting his scheduled court appearance.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.