Not a Drag Queen
CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A Department of Corrections chaplain was arrested on multiple child sex charges, according to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).
Robert William Austin, 58, of Sanderson, was allegedly sending explicit messages to a “14-year-old girl,” who happened to be an undercover detective, according to the CCSO. Austin allegedly knew of the “juvenile’s” age but continued to send messages.
Austin reportedly sent a message to the “juvenile” on Friday, stating he was fishing in Jacksonville, according to the CCSO. Detectives contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to determine his location. Citrus County deputies went to Jacksonville and found Austin, according to the CCSO. He was arrested on seven counts of transmission of harmful material to a minor, two counts of computer pornography — seducing, soliciting, luring, or enticing a child to engage in an illegal act, and one count of unlawful use of a 2-way communication device.
During that operation, which was conducted in March, law enforcement created fictitious profiles on several websites waiting to be contacted and solicited through online messages by these subjects. Some of them chose to send sexually explicit pictures, messages, and requests, despite acknowledging the child’s age.
After CCSO confirmed that Austin had sent sexually explicit images during the investigation, they obtained a warrant for his arrest. However, he wasn’t home when they arrived.
On Friday, he told the ‘juvenile’ he was fishing near Jacksonville and sent a lewd picture, according to authorities. Detectives worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Office in Jacksonville to pinpoint the location where Austin was fishing and arrested him.
