On Monday, September 9, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a man who had driven from Volusia County into Flagler County to meet a 16-year-old girl for sex.
Alfred Smith, 25, of Daytona Beach thought he would be meeting a minor he had been messaging who had arranged to meet up at a gas station in Palm Coast. Once Smith arrived at the gas station, he was met by FCSO deputies instead. Smith admitted to deputies he was talking to someone, who he believed to be a teenage girl, on a social media app. Smith even admitted to sending sexually explicit photos, and told deputies he knew it was wrong to drive to Palm Coast but did it anyways, as he claimed he “had not been intimate for over 5 years.”
FCSO’s investigation began after private online sleuths were communicating with Smith and reported their activities to FCSO. Smith was on sex offender probation for Lewd or Lascivious Molestation—Victim Under 12 Years Old, Offender Under 18 Years Old.
Smith was arrested for Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device and Traveling to Meet/Lure a Child After Using a Computer. When deputies searched Smith, they found an unused condom in his pockets. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held without bond. Additional charges are pending.
Alfred Smith (Flagler County Jail Mugshot)
“This pervert thought he was traveling to Flager County to take away the innocence of a child but instead he meets Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies who were waiting for him,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Obviously, he has not learned anything from his prior offense and being on sex offender probation. Now it’s time for him to learn a lesson in prison before he can hurt a child.”
View arrest video here: https://bit.ly/4dQ9V4W
