Bradenton man faces charges after trying to meet 12-year-old girl, prosecutors say
A Bradenton man is facing charges after prosecutors say he tried to coerce a 12-year-old girl he met on TikTok into engaging in sexual activity.
A grand jury indicted Brian Todd Walker, 51, on charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and possession of child sexual abuse material, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced.
If convicted on all counts, Walker faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison, according to a news release.
Prosecutors say Walker contacted a 12-year-old girl who lives in his community over the social media platform TikTok and began having inappropriate conversations with her.
According to court documents, the family then handed the social media profile over to authorities and an undercover agent with the FBI took over conversations with Walker.
During the course of the conversations between Walker and who he believed to be the 12-year-old girl, prosecutors say Walker attempted to coerce her to engage in sexual activity and asked her to “trade pics” on Snapchat.
Bradenton man texted minor, prosecutors say
During these conversations, prosecutors say Walker expressed that he was attracted to 12-year-old girls.
“Obviously I know you’re still growing and I like that,” Walker allegedly wrote during one conversation, according to court documents.
Prosecutors say Walker then began asking for clarification on where in the community the 12-year-old girl lived and began telling the undercover agent about “secret places” they could go engage in sexual activity, saying that he had previously “touched young girls” in a sexual manner in those “secret places”.
When later confronted by law enforcement, Walker said he had never touched young girls and that it was simply a fantasy, according to court documents.
On June 23, prosecutors say Walker traveled to meet the 12-year-old girl at the community pool, but was instead arrested.
Upon seizing Walker’s cell phone, prosecutors say law enforcement found images of minors under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, according to a news release.
