Police posed as minor on dating website in undercover child predator sting

Mollye Barrows, Pensacola News Journal
·4 min read
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Eleven men arrested in a child predator sting centered in Pensacola in February believed they were going to meet with underage girls to have sex.

An arrest report for one of the men arrested on Feb. 25 sheds light into the joint investigation that involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, the Pensacola Police Department (PPD) and the Escambia Sheriff’s Office.

Few details on the operation were released when the joint investigation was announced in February,

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The report, found in court records, said Justin McClendon, 33, of Pensacola, was arrested on Feb. 25, during an Undercover Crimes Against Children Operation hosted by the FBI and PPD. According to the report, a special agent with the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children Squad and Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force went undercover posing as a child and posted an advertisement on a social media website. The News Journal is not identifying the site.

The site describes itself as a personals website “for people who want to connect with others but who are tired of all the games and drama that can come with serious or long-term relationships. It's a place where you can meet like-minded people who are just looking for casual encounters, friends with benefits, or just someone to hang out with.”

The arrest report went on to say, “While operating in this capacity [the agent’s] undercover persona was contacted by an individual…later determined to be Justin McClendon. During the ensuing communication [the agent’s] undercover persona disclosed that they were 14 years old.”

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Police said McClendon made it clear he thought he was talking to a 14-year-old girl and during the conversation offered to pay the undercover agent posing as a child $80 to perform a sexual act. They then arranged to meet at Pensacola’s Veteran’s Park. When McClendon arrived, police took him into custody and while arresting him they said he threw a substance to the ground believed to be fentanyl. The substance is being tested and more charges could be pending.

After his arrest, McClendon denied he planned to have sex with the person he thought was an underage girl.

“McClendon informed me he did go to the park to meet someone, but his intent was not to have sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl,” reporting officer Johnathan Cramer wrote. “McClendon stated he planned to take the girl’s money and leave.”

McClendon has pleaded not guilty to the charge of using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. He’s still in the Escambia County Jail where his bond is set at $68,500. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the charge March 24.

Justin McClendon is one of 11 men arrested in the child sex sting. While most are from Pensacola, others charged in the undercover operation came from California, as well as Foley and Loxley in Alabama. Charges for the different suspects include traveling to meet a minor for unlawful sexual conduct, using a computer to solicit a minor for unlawful sexual conduct and using two way communication device for unlawful behavior.

Police declined to comment on the details of the investigation, but said more stings are planned.

The suspects arrested in the child predator sting are:

  • Christopher A. Harrington, 40: From California, pleaded not guilty, released on $50,000 bond

  • Steven E. Pace, 25: From Pensacola, pleaded not guilty, released on $35,000 bond

  • Brandon M. Webb, 35: From Pensacola, pleaded not guilty, in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $100,000

  • Khairul Subha, 32: From Pensacola, pleaded not guilty, released on $35,000 bond

  • Marion D. Wassman, 55: From Loxley, Alabama, pleaded not guilty, released on $45,000 bond

  • Devin N. Shackelford, 26: No court or jail records are available for this defendant

  • Justin McClendon, 33: From Pensacola, pleaded not guilty, in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $68,500

  • Ryan Hester, 27: From Pensacola, pleaded not guilty, on pre-trial release wearing a GPS monitor, no contact with minors, bond $80,000

  • Frank B. Rhobotham, 74: From Pensacola, pleaded not guilty, released on $20,000 bond

  • George Tolbert, 63: From Pensacola, pleaded not guilty, in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $80,000

  • John W. Hairelson, 38: From Foley, Alabama, pleaded not guilty, in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $100,000

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Police posed as minor on dating website in undercover child sex sting