ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – A captain from the Ormond Beach Fire Department shared sexually explicit messages with an undercover detective who was posing as a 13-year-old girl, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Agents said William Scott Johnson, 58, sent messages to the undercover detective asking for photos of the girl in specific clothing, describing sexual activities and attempting to meet up in person.
[TRENDING: Biden will move to reverse these Trump policies | Here’s how to register for COVID-19 vaccine | At least part-time residency required for vaccine in FL]
Records show Johnson used the online profile name Nozzle3499, which he’s had since at least 2003, while he was communicating with the undercover detective.
According to the warrant, Johnson exchanged messages with a girl in a chatroom whom he believed to be 13 years old. Messages in the arrest warrant show he told her he was 58 and they two discussed her age multiple times.
“u (sic) don’t think I’m too youngg (sic)?” the undercover officer wrote.
“No I don’t,” Johnson responded, adding “13 yo’s (sic) can be cute.”
During another conversation Johnson offered to take who he thought was a 13-year-old girl on a “short spin” on his motorcycle if he ever came to Tampa.
He even acknowledged in their messages talking to a 13-year-old girl was not a good idea.
“Not sure being attracted to a 13 y/o makes me a good man,” he wrote. “Or at least others would say that.”
Multiple conversations show Johnson spoke to the person he believed to be 13 to make plans for him to come to Tampa or having her sneak into the fire station on his shift.
Johnson, of DeLand, was arrested Wednesday on charges of online solicitation of a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
Officials from the city of Ormond Beach said Johnson has been placed on administrative leave without pay. He’s worked for the fire department since 1998.
“Public trust is our number one priority and we are devastated to find out that this promise to our community may have been broken. Any firefighter who goes against our mission to serve and protect the public does not represent the values of the Ormond Beach Fire Department,” Ormond Beach Fire Chief Richard Sievers said.
Anyone who has information about the case is asked to call FDLE at 813-758-6249.