INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — After responding to an online ad, a Port Saint Lucie man has been arrested seeking sex from an undercover Indian River County Sheriff’s officer posing as a minor at the McDonald’s restaurant near Oslo Road and US 1, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Jerry Norman, 47.
Beginning on April 13, as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children initiative, detectives posed as a 14-year-old girl and responded to an online ad in which the poster was seeking a sexual encounter with a female with small breasts. The undercover officer identified himself as a 14-year-old female and received confirmation that the suspect Norman believed he was communicating with an under-aged female.
According to a Sherriff’s press release, through a series of explicit online conversations, Norman arranged to meet with the girl at the McDonald’s restaurant. It was clear from the conversations that the meeting was for the purpose of a sexual encounter. On April 18, undercover detectives were there to greet Norman, who denied he had shown up to meet anyone.
As Norman’s identity was not known prior to the time he was confronted by detectives in the parking lot, he was not immediately arrested as additional evidence was needed. However, subsequent investigative efforts led to a connection between Norman’s cellular phone and the Wi-Fi signal from McDonald’s at the time of the last few communications when he believed he was still emailing the 14-year-old, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Also, phone and email records were obtained by investigators after Norman was identified and a warrant for his arrest was obtained on May 2. He was arrested on that warrant by Noon on May 2, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office concluded an investigation with the arrest of Norman, a resident of Port Saint Lucie but employed in Indian River County.
Norman was charged with traveling to meet a minor for unlawful sexual activity and lewd computer solicitation of a child, both felonies. He posted bond of $50,000 and was released from the county jail last night at approximately 7 p.m.