GAINESVILLE – A 34-year-old Newberry man was arrested after authorities said he communicated online with an undercover Alachua County sheriff’s deputy posing as a 15-year-old girl and later traveled to a Gainesville park expecting to meet her.
The arrest was part of “Operation Firewall,” a multi-agency undercover operation hosted by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office from July 30 through Aug. 1 as part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The operation brought together local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to identify people suspected of using the internet to entice, solicit, traffic or travel to meet minors for sexual exploitation or human trafficking.
According to information released by the Sheriff’s Office, an undercover deputy began communicating with Richard Matthew Moore through the Pure app before the conversation moved to Snapchat. The deputy posed as a 15-year-old girl.
Investigators reported that Moore acknowledged the purported girl’s age but continued engaging in sexually explicit conversation. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Moore told the undercover persona that knowing she was 15 sexually aroused him.
Moore and the undercover persona discussed meeting in person Aug. 1, investigators reported. The conversation resumed Aug. 3, when Moore allegedly sent an explicit photograph of himself.
Authorities said Moore later drove to a Gainesville park expecting to meet the person he believed was 15 and was arrested at the park.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Moore reportedly admitted using Pure and Snapchat to communicate with the undercover persona. According to the Sheriff’s Office, he also admitted communicating with other minors for sexual gratification.
Investigators reported that Moore admitted sending the explicit photograph and asking the undercover persona to send him a partially nude photograph. Moore denied that he intended to engage in sexual activity during the planned meeting, according to authorities.
Moore also reportedly admitted deleting Snapchat content before encountering law enforcement.
He was charged with using a computer or electronic device to solicit a minor for sexual activity, traveling to meet a minor after using a computer to solicit or lure the child, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
According to the information provided by the Sheriff’s Office, Moore has no local criminal history.
Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered Moore held without bail pending a hearing on a motion by the State Attorney’s Office seeking to have him detained without bail until trial. If the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.
The charges are accusations, and Moore is presumed innocent unless proven guilty
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