- August 23, 2024
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Four men were arrested on multiple sex-crime charges against children as part of an online undercover operation spanning July 11-14.
The arrests were made as part of a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office online undercover operation targeting suspects using the internet to exploit children, according to an arrest report. Several detectives from the St. Johns and Flagler County Sherriff’s Offices posed as children online and were approached by the four suspects, according to their arrest reports.
A representative for the FCSO said over email that the investigation is still ongoing. All four suspects, ranging in age from 80-years-old to 19-years-old, were arrested on July 13 and 14.
Darrin Demond Belle, 31, of Daytona Beach, has been charged with human trafficking a minor, lewd and lascivious battery, travelling to a minor for sex, soliciting a minor for sex and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Belle — who thought he was texting a 14-year-old girl but was actually an undercover SJCSO detective — arranged to meet a girl for sex in a Palm Coast neighborhood.
Isaiah Jamar Williams, 19, of Palm Coast, has been charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, soliciting a minor for sex and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. An undercover FCSO deputy created a profile on an app, posing as 13-year-old girl “Isabelle.”
Williams texted with “Isabelle” over three days before arranging to meet up with her for sex, his arrest report said. FCSO deputies arrested the man when he arrived.
St. Augustine’s Wesley Dean Dingman, 80, has been charged with human trafficking, traveling to meet a minor for sex, soliciting a minor for sex and unlawful use of a communication device.
Dingman messaged a SJCSO detective who was posing as a 14-year-old girl and arranged to meet her in Palm Coast for sex. Dingman also agreed to pay $200 for the sex acts.
After he was arrested on July 14, Dingman admitted to his intentions to pay a 14-year-old for sex.
Joshua Thomas Johnson, 40, of Ormond Beach, has been charged with using a computer to solicit a child, traveling to meet a child for sex and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Johnson began messaging a detective posing as a 14-year-old girl through an online social media platform.
Johnson agreed to meet the 14-year-old for sex at a Palm Coast apartment complex where he was arrested by FCSO deputies.
