A youth lacrosse coach in Volusia County, Florida, was arrested as part of a joint undercover operation called Operation Tor/Pedo. Robert James Rece, 38, of DeLeon Springs, known as ‘Coach Rosco’ by members of the Volusia Lacrosse league, was taken into custody on Saturday.
Details of the Arrest
According to an arrest report, an undercover law enforcement officer began chatting with Rece on July 9 through a social media app. The conversations eventually moved to text messaging, during which Rece discussed sex with the officer and their age differences. Rece asked what sexual services the supposed teen offered and acknowledged her age, writing, ‘You’re 14,’ and ’14 is too young, that’s jail bait.’ Rece also told the undercover officer, ‘I was thinking that we could make it a regular thing, like once or twice a month.’
On July 11, the undercover officer spoke with Rece over the phone. During the call, Rece asked if she wanted him to come see her and said he was nervous because of how young she was. When the officer reiterated that she was 14, Rece said he didn’t want to get in trouble, but then told her he wanted to have sex and discussed paying $100 for the encounter.
Rece drove to a gas station in Deltona, where he believed he would be meeting the teen. Instead, he was met by deputies and arrested. After being taken into custody, Rece told investigators he uses apps for what he described as an ‘escort thing’ and admitted to messaging the undercover officer for several days, saying he was the one who initiated the conversation.
Other Arrests
Rece was among seven men arrested during the joint effort between the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Port Orange Police Department, the Daytona Beach Police Department, the South Daytona Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s 7th Circuit. The others arrested were Colton James Gregory, 19, of Eustis; Brandon Pierre Rutledge, 35, of Altamonte Springs; Logan Banks, 32, of Madison, Tennessee; Dion Kendal Jackson, 31, of Daytona Beach; Felix Mendez II, 28, of Port Orange; and Temur Khujabekov, 31, of Orlando.
All seven have been charged with traveling to meet a minor, using a computer or internet service to solicit a minor, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
