Last defendant sentenced in Marion County sting aimed at people soliciting minors online
The final defendant in the 2018 "Operation Can't Touch This" undercover operation aimed at stopping sexual predators has been sentenced to a 21-month prison term.
Donald A. Willingham, 75, of Williston, was one of seven men arrested in the sting. According to court records, Willingham pleaded no contest to travel to meet a minor for illegal sexual conduct.
Willingham's plea agreement, arranged between his lawyer and prosecutors from the State Attorney's Office, also calls for him to serve 24 months of probation, register as a sexual offender and provide a DNA sample.
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In late August 2018, Marion County Sheriff's Office officials held a news conference to announce the results o f an investigation that targeted adults preying on children. "Operation Can't Touch This" aimed to find those who tried to meet minors online and arrange sexual encounters.
Sheriff's Office officials said the undercover operation lasted more than five days, and consisted of law enforcement officials from multiple agencies who worked more than 60 hours.
During that time, law enforcement officials posed as minors, age 13 to 15, living in Marion County. Those who made arrangements to meet with minors were instead met by law officers and were taken into custody.
Seven men, including Willingham, ranging from their 20s to their 70s, were caught in the sting.
Cases against the six other defendants – Nathan Collins; Anthony Michael Guiliani; Nicholas Samuel Rogers; Christopher Molinaro; Geoffrey Johnson; and Charles A. Smith – were resolved in 2019 and 2020. Records show their prison sentences ranged from 21 months to 46.5 months.
Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118, austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Prison term for Florida man, 75, arrested in online child sex sting