A 12-year prison sentence has been handed down to Jarrod Long, an Orange County man convicted of child exploitation and solicitation charges. The Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution secured the sentence following an investigation that revealed Long’s attempts to solicit sex from a minor online.
“This child predator responded to an ad where he thought he was speaking to a 13-year-old girl and tried to meet up for sex,” said Acting Attorney General John Guard. “Thanks to our Office of Statewide Prosecution, this despicable criminal instead will serve a lengthy sentence behind bars.”
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Long responded to an online advertisement and initiated sexually explicit conversations with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Despite being informed of her age multiple times, Long persisted in soliciting lewd photographs and arranging a meeting for sex. He even went so far as to request the individual delete their messages, change his contact number, and then resume the inappropriate communication.
The investigation stemmed from an FBI Cyber Task Force sting operation. Long was subsequently arrested and convicted on charges including use of a computer for child exploitation, solicitation to promote sexual performance by a child, and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
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In addition to his 12-year prison sentence, Long will be registered as a sex offender for life. Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Rebecca Smith-Hameroff led the prosecution, and the Orlando Police Department and the FBI conducted the joint investigation.
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