Ft. Pierce City Commissioner, 38, arrested for sending nude photos of himself to 12-year-old girl
James Taylor, a 38-year-old Fort Pierce City Commissioner in South Florida has been arrested and charged with 24 felony counts after it came to light that he sent nude photos of himself to a 12-year-old girl – and asked her to do the same. On Thursday, July 24, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, executed court-authorized search warrants at two locations in Fort Pierce. These operations were conducted as part of an ongoing multi-jurisdictional investigation into Internet crimes against children.
As a result of the investigation, Taylor has been charged with a total of 24 felony counts, including six counts each of Transmission of Materials Harmful to Minors by Electronic Equipment, Transfer or Display of Obscenity to a Minor, Harmful Communication to a Minor, and Lewd Computer Solicitation, four counts of Lewd Computer Solicitation of a Child, and two counts of Solicitation of Transmission of Child Pornography by Electronic Device or Equipment. These charges are in direct violation of Florida State Statute 847.0135(a), which addresses the use of electronic communication to exploit or solicit minors for sexual purposes.
Taylor is currently in custody and will being held at the St. Lucie County Jail. Bond has been set at $250,000.00 with a hold for first appearance.
The investigation began in August 2024 when a Police Department in Illinois received a report from the mother of a 13-year-old girl. The mother advised that her daughter, who was only 12 years old when the communications began, had been contacted by an adult male via Snapchat. Over time, the conversations became sexually explicit, and the suspect allegedly sent multiple nude images to the minor.
Following a preliminary investigation, Illinois Police detectives traced the suspect’s online activity to St. Lucie County, Florida. On or about May 8, 2025, detectives with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit were contacted by their counterparts in Illinois and initiated a parallel investigation. Upon receiving the case details and digital evidence, St. Lucie County investigators began an in-depth follow-up investigation to corroborate the findings, confirmed the suspect identity, and secure sufficient evidence under Florida law to pursue criminal charges.
The ICAC Unit continues to actively investigate this case.
If you believe you or someone you know may be a victim in this case, investigators urge you to come forward as soon as possible. Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (772) 462-7300 or submit an anonymous tip through the Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-TIPS.
Check out the the video below to hear what St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro had to say regarding James Taylor’s arrest at his press conference yesterday.
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(Source: St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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