POLK COUNTY, Fla. – An observant citizen’s concern for the safety of children led to the arrest of a registered sex offender who was loitering near a school bus stop in Poinciana.
The incident occurred Friday morning, January 17th, around 8:25 AM. A witness noticed a man standing among young children at a bus stop and felt something was amiss. The citizen contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, prompting deputies to investigate.
Deputies identified the man as 37-year-old Jonathan Louis. While Louis lived near the bus stop, he had no children attending school and could not provide a valid reason for his presence there.
READ: Polk City Man Caught With Child Sex Abuse Material At Tampa Seaport
A background check revealed that Louis is a registered sex offender, stemming from a 2004 conviction in Lake County for lewd and lascivious battery on a minor aged 12-15. Furthermore, deputies discovered that Louis had failed to notify his parole officer of his current address after his release from jail in December 2024, violating the terms of his probation.
Louis was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail. He faces charges of:
- Violation of probation for failure to register
- Loitering by a sex offender within 300 feet of children
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, especially around children.
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