Paramedic accused of soliciting Internet sex
Date: October 07, 2004Source: Hernando Today
By:
BEVERLY HILLS - A 40-year-old Citrus County Emergency Medical Services paramedic was arrested Tuesday when he was accused of soliciting sex to undercover detectives posing as a 14-year-old girl, authorities said Wednesday.
Donald Joseph Hartley of Beverly Hills in Citrus County has since been fired from his job. He was released on a $5,000 bond and faces a charge of sexual solicitation of a minor via the Internet.
"It crosses all lines," said Sheriff Richard Nugent when asked if he was surprised that an emergency worker was charged with the crime. The investigation began Sept. 1 when Hernando County Detective Jim Boylan logged onto the Internet posing as a 14-year-old girl, investigators said. Authorities said Hartley made contact with the detective on Yahoo Instant Messenger and began conversing with the detective, whose profile was clearly marked as an underage juvenile.
According to a sheriff's report, Hartley asked the detective to meet him for the purpose of having sex with him.
Hartley said he knew he could get in trouble for having the conversation, but he continued the conversation, becoming very descriptive in parts, the report said.
The message was recorded, investigators said. Later, detectives Jim Boylan and Tom Banks acquired a subpoena of Yahoo and were able to determine the conversation took place from a computer in Hartley's home.
Detectives interviewed Hartley, who admitted to being the person online soliciting sex from a minor. A warrant was issued and Hartley was arrested early Tuesday morning, authorities said. When contacted by a Hernando Today reporter Wednesday, Hartley declined to comment about the case. Teresa Gorentz, executive director of Nature Coast EMS, which serves Citrus County, confirmed Wednesday afternoon that Hartley was a former paramedic with the group.
"He was previously employed with Nature Coast EMS," she said.
Gorentz said Hartley was released from his job Tuesday after Nature Coast EMS found out about the investigation. She said there would be no internal investigation of the incident, since it was not a work-related issue.
Hartley can request an administrative hearing, if he chooses, Gorentz said. He was given five working days to respond, but she said she would seek legal counsel to see what a reasonable time for his response would be.
Hartley was hired by Nature Coast EMS almost four years ago, and was 11 days shy of his four-year anniversary.
This is the first occurrence of detectives arresting a person after being solicited on the Internet. Detectives Boylan and Banks belong to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, based at the Gainesville Police Department.
Nugent said the detectives chose to become certified after an incident last year in which two sailors solicited a Hernando County girl on the Internet.
The sailors came to Hernando County, had sex with the girl and were later arrested.
"If you have the Internet, then you have an open portal to pedophiles in your home," he said.
Nugent said a second investigation was ongoing and a warrant was now being drawn up for another person accused of soliciting via the Internet.
Sexual solicitation of a minor via the Internet is a third-degree felony under Florida law. If convicted, Hartley could face up to five years in prison.
Add comment
Email to a Friend
| Discussion is closed - view comments archieve |
| 2005-03-06 06:06:29 - isn't it interesting that this guy can... MARVIN |
| Total 1 comments |
