23 adults arrested in multi-stage Nassau County operation targeting child sexual predators
The Nassau County Sheriff's Office announced the completion of a multi-phase operation targeting people who attempted to commit sexual crimes against who they believed to be children.
'I couldn't believe how many grown men wanted to have sex with what they thought was a 13- or 14-year-old child,' exclaimed Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. 'Telling the child nasty things, they wanted to do, and what perverted things they were going to do to the child. It was really disgusting.'
On January 15th of this year, several law enforcement agencies teamed up in what they called 'Special Operation Deviant Nightfall.' According to the Nassau County Sheriff's office, the four-day operation involved undercover detectives posing as children online, then intercepting suspects who attempted to arrange sexual encounters with them.
In just four days, sixteen individuals were arrested.
At the time, we were aware of ten, including one who Action News Jax discovered to be a Clay County elected official.
Harrison 'Ted' Clark later resigned from his position.
'These aren't typical criminals, but what they are doing they are lurking online, searching, and grooming children online to engage with them in sexual conduct,' said Sheriff Leeper.
A follow-up phase, called 'Deviant Sunrise,' resulted in seven more arrests over the subsequent two months, expanding the operation's reach across multiple counties.
Sheriff Bill Leeper has this message for anyone looking to prey on children for sex.
'If you've been talking nasty, sending filthy pictures to what you thought was a child, we are after you.'
The Sheriff revealed that they currently have more suspected predators they are trying to arrest.
Watch the announcement of these arrests below:
You can read the full press release from the Nassau County Sheriff's Office below:
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Law firms file 100-page lawsuit against designers, builders of Sapelo Island gangway after collapse
Six law firms, including Morgan & Morgan and the firm of prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump, are suing five companies involved with the engineering and construction of the gangway on Georgia's Sapelo Island that led to the deaths of seven people after collapsing last October. Four of the people who died were from Jacksonville, one was a former reverend from Brunswick, and the two others were from Georgia. Georgia state officials believe 40 people were on the gangway between the ferry and the island when it broke apart. 'This was a tragedy of unbelievable proportions,' said Chadrick Mance, a Savannah-based attorney who helped create the lawsuit, 'there was an improper design and improper maintenance of the gangway.' The 101-page lawsuit lists 19 different charges against the companies being sued, including negligence and wrongful death related to the collapse. Part of the reason is because it lists information from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources saying the gangway should have been able to hold the weight of 320 people. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Between survivors of the collapse and family of those who died, 50 people are listed in the lawsuit as those seeking damages. The lawsuit claims the gangway had issues for years. It shows an email from 2022 between one of the companies that helped design the gangway and DNR, saying hairline cracks and a 'completely failed weld' had been found during an inspection, and concerns raised over a loud popping sound as people were walking across the platform. The email later said there were no issues or concerns related to the gangway's structural integrity. The lawsuit was announced between two separate news briefings: one held by attorney Ben Crump in Atlanta and another held by Chadrick Mance at the Elm Grove Baptist Church in Meridian, Georgia. It's right next to the ferry pickup to Sapelo Island and the site where those who survived the collapse first reunited with their families after it happened. 'Replaying everything in my mind, seeing my daughter hanging on the side, finding out my wife and my youngest daughter are missing, it's just been rough,' Michael Wood said, one of the survivors who spoke at the briefing inside Elm Grove Baptist Church. Read: Historic Mayport Lighthouse in plans to be relocated One of the last pages of the lawsuit, which was filed in Georgia's Gwinnett County, demands a trial to be held, though no set trial or hearing date has been given. Mance, along with the other lawyers who helped put the lawsuit together, are promising answers for those affected by the collapse in the hope it may help them heal. 'We will be seeking maximum justice, unfettered justice and aggressive justice for these clients. And these are the best firms in the country. And so if there's ever an opportunity to get justice, this is it,' Mance said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fond du Lac County deputy retires after 29 years of service
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) – A longtime Fond du Lac County deputy has called it a career after 29 years of service with the Sheriff's Office. According to a post on social media by the County of Fond du Lac, Deputy Dave Tackett started his nearly three-decade-long career in the county jail before transferring to patrol. City of Green Bay announces new Alderperson for District 8 County officials say Deputy Tackett later became a school resource deputy, where he participated in and organized Shop with a Cop as well as several other PR events for the Sheriff's Office. Towards the end of his career, he is said to have transferred to City/County Government Center security, where he worked in the courts and at the security checkpoint. Deputy Tackett officially retired on Tuesday after 29 years of service. You will be so missed, Deputy Tackett! We wish you the best on your retirement, and we thank you for your many years of dedicated service to Fond du Lac County residents and keeping them safe! Fond du Lac County officials Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
2 arrested and charged with murder in Seminole County shooting
Two people have been arrested and charged with murder in the Monday evening shooting at a home in unincorporated Altamonte Springs, according to the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. The suspects, Tristin Tully Bennette, 18, and Natalia Precious Voltaire, 24, were arrested around 5 p.m. Tuesday during a traffic stop by Altamonte Springs Police officers in the East Altamonte area near Northlake Boulevard, according to a Wednesday news release from the Sheriff's Office. Multiple firearms and other evidence was recovered and the pair were questioned and arrested. Voltaire and Bennette were charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a firearm and grand theft of a firearm. They were booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility without bond. Sheriff's deputies responded at 7:48 p.m. Monday to a report of a shooting at 470 Forest Lake Drive, the agency said. Upon arrival, deputies found 19-year-old Nicco Diamante Wong suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The agency's detectives determined the incident was not random and the suspects were known to Wong, the news release said. Based on witness statements and digital evidence, investigators identified Bennette and Voltaire as the suspects. Detectives learned the pair visited the victim's residence under the pretense of helping clean, the agency said. Once inside the house they attempted to steal firearms. During the confrontation, Voltaire shot Wong before fleeing with Bennette in a white Chevrolet Camaro. An alert was issued for the car which resulted in the traffic stop and arrests. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Seminole County Sheriff's Office at 407-665-6650 or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS