Cops: Winter Haven man asked girl, 15, for sex in exchange for info on burglary

Melissa Marino

9 years ago

WINTER HAVEN, FL (WFLA) — Police in Winter Haven have arrested an 18-year-old who allegedly used the social media app “Kik Messages” to solicit sex from a 15-year-old girl in return for information on a burglary.

Police say Jerry Lee Thomas, 18, began messaging the victim on April 11 saying he knew who burglarized her home the week before. Police say two Xbox systems and other electronics were stolen from the girl’s home.

Thomas allegedly messaged the girl that he would tell her who committed the burglary if she “did him fair.” The victim responded, “What?” Thomas then allegedly replied back, “10$” or “let me ****….ill tell you right after though.”

Thomas continued to ask the victim if they had a deal, to which the victim responded no.

After learning about the messages, the victim’s mother contacted police, who contacted Thomas through Kik. Police say a message was sent to Thomas asking if he wanted to do the deal and once again, Thomas responded to the victim stating that, “you **** me and I promise.”

Thomas then went to the victim’s residence, where officers arrested him. Police say he was in possession of a cell phone and an unopened condom. “He must have run, because it’s about a 30-minute walk, and he was there in 15 minutes,” said the victim’s mother, who did not want to be identified.

Thomas was considered a family friend, according to the victim’s mom. “We’ve had this boy in our home. She thought of him as an older brother,” she said. “He is supposed to protect her, and yet he wants to violate her.”

Thomas denied having the Kik Messaging app on his phone and denied knowing the victim was 15 years-old, though earlier communication indicate he acknowledged her age.

Thomas was booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of traveling to meet after using a computer to lure a child and using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a child. Both are felonies. Thomas was also charged with violating probation from an out-of-county juvenile charge.

“You can’t fix stupid. You really can’t,” Winter Haven PIO Jamie Brown said. “He knew something wasn’t right, and yet he was going to throw everything away and move forward with it. He walked right into it.”WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON RIGHT NOW: