Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release
August 6, 2008
Media Contact: Jenn Meale
Phone: (850) 245-0150
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Seminole County Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years for Traveling to Meet Young Teen for Sex

~ Man was arrested Christmas Eve following undercover CyberCrime operation ~


TALLAHASSEE, FL - Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a Seminole County man has been sentenced to 63 months in prison for traveling to meet a 13-year-old child for sex. Joaquim Santana was arrested by the Attorney General’s CyberCrime Unit on Christmas Eve and was charged with traveling to meet a child for sex, solicitation via computer, and lewd and lascivious molestation.

Santana, 27, sexually molested a young female victim in early December after contacting her over the internet. The victim’s mother reported the abuse to the Attorney General’s Office and investigators with the CyberCrime Unit initiated an undercover operation, assuming the victim’s online identity. Santana continued chatting with the person he thought was his victim, not realizing he was conversing with the undercover investigator. He was arrested on Christmas Eve after he traveled to Casselberry, attempting to meet the girl for another planned sexual encounter. The arrest was carried out with the assistance of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. The victim's identity is protected and will not be released.

Following his prison sentence, Santana must serve five years of sex offender probation including treatment and electronic monitoring. He will also be required to register with the state as a sex offender. Santana was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s CyberCrime Unit. Today’s sentence was handed down by Judge Debra Nelson in Seminole County. A copy of Santana’s booking photograph in the Seminole County Jail is available here. The unit is a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) of Central Florida, as is the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

The CyberTipline is a number provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to report information regarding child sexual exploitation. Reports are forwarded to law enforcement for investigation and review. The toll-free number is 1-800-THE-LOST and reports can also be filed online at: http://www.cybertipline.com.

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