PANAMA CITY BEACH — Police have arrested a man who they said was going to meet what he thought was a child to engage in sexual contact, according to officials.
Jon Edwin Spears, 52, was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly sent nude digital images of himself to who he believed to be the child but was actually a Panama City Beach Police Department investigator, officials said.
Spears, of Panama City Beach, has been charged with traveling to meet a minor to engage in any unlawful sexual conduct, solicitation of a minor with an electronic device to engage in any unlawful sexual conduct, transmission of harmful material to minors by an electronic device and unlawful use of two-way communication device.
The charges stemmed from an investigation in which Spears established contact over the Internet with what he believed to be a 14-year-old male child, however Spears was actually communicating with a PCBPD investigator.
During their talks, Spears allegedly sent nude digital images of himself to who he believed to be the child. Spears then allegedly wished to meet the child at a local retail store so he could purchase underwear for the child, and Spears asked the child to go to his home to have sexual contact. But when Spears arrived at the store to meet with the minor, investigators placed him under arrest.
Spears was taken to the Bay County Jail.