A Ponte Vedra man who told authorities he works at Publix was one of 18 men facing charges after he allegedly traveled to Polk County to have sex with a 14-year-old girl, the Polk County Sheriff’s office announced today.
Michael Dean Thompson, 20, of Ponte Vedra was arrested March 30 as part of the Polk County “Operation April’s Fools” sting. According to the authorities, Thompson arrived at an undisclosed sting location believing he had arranged to have sex with the 14-year-old. Thompson allegedly told the girl he was 18. Upon his arrest, detectives said, Thompson said he didn’t really believe the girl was 14 but admitted she told him her age multiple times.
Thompson was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, use of a computer to seduce a child, traveling to meet a minor, use of a computer to seduce a child and misrepresent age and attempted lewd battery.
