A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s detention deputy trainee was terminated from his role after he allegedly paid a minor for sex, the agency said.
Kennorris Coleman, 25, was arrested for lewd and lascivious behavior and booked into the Pinellas County Jail, an affidavit states.
According to Clearwater police, Coleman had made arrangments to pay a 15-year-old girl $200 for sex. He also had the girl send him explicit photos, which he also paid for.
On March 1, Coleman allegedly picked the girl up from her home and drove her to Brigadoon Drive, where they had sex in the back of his car.
It’s unclear who reported the alleged offense to police, but detectives were able to confiscate the girl’s phone and began communicating with Coleman.
Pretending to be the girl, a detective sent Coleman a text saying that her period was late. He also asked if he wore a condom and if it slipped or broke. Coleman said that he wore a condom, which stayed on. He also asked when the girl last had her period and offered to pay for an abortion, according to the affidavit.
When she did not reply, Coleman send her a text, which read: “Please tell me your [sic] really 18, the abortion requires it.”
“I have to know the abortion is gonna require it and I can get in a lot of trouble if not,” Coleman told the girl, according to police.
Coleman was arrested by the Clearwater Police Department and booked into the Pinellas County Jail. He was released after posting a $10,000 bond, authorities said.
Coleman began working for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in July of 2017 as a Community Service Aide. He had just graduated from the detention academy on March 8 and became a trainee on a probationary status. He had been participating in an 8-week-long training seminar when he was fired.
“There is no tolerance in this office for anyone who would prey against the most vulnerable and precious resource in our community: our children,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Kennorris Coleman does not reflect or come close to upholding the values, honor or integrity of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and I ordered him terminated immediately.”
