PGA Golfer, Swim Coach and 40 Others Arrested in Child Sex Sting

Just when we were beginning to move forward from the likes of Bernie Fine and Jerry Sandusky, a new string of names has popped up in a large Florida child sex related sting operation.  ”Operation Red Cheeks,” the name given to the child sex sting, began January 8, 2012 and involved several different crime-fighting organizations in the Orlando, Florida area.

The team began posing as children in online chatrooms – leading to the arrest of 40 offenders, including PGA pro-golfer Steve Thomas, 55, who was charged with traveling to seduce an underage girl.  He was also charged with  using a computer to entice a legal guardian or parent to commit sex acts on an underage girl.  Thomas thought he was chatting with a woman about having sex with her 13-year-old daughter.  When he was arrested, police found three condoms, chocolate pudding, and a bottle of honey in his SUV, according to the arrest affidavit.

Other offenders arrested included teachers, college students, and a retired beekeeper, in a week-long child sex sting.  Another shocking arrest was that of 29-year-old Bryan Woodward, the head swim coach at Gator Swim Club in Gainesville, Florida.  Woodward chatted with a detective posing as a young girl and said “younger girls turn me on.”  He also brought treats with him to meet the “child.”

All the men arrested face felony charges.

- Linda Ward, The BroadStreet Times

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