Steven Alexander of West Palm Beach, Florida was arrested on May 23 after he allegedly sent sexual texts to an undercover police officer posing as a 14-year-old girl.
Alexander, 37, faces charges for obscene communication and child cruelty. He was booked into Palm Beach County Jail and is being held on a $75,000 bond. A judge also ordered him not to use the internet or have contact with anyone under the age of 18. The press did not list an attorney for Alexander.
According to records from Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Alexander reportedly posted an ad on Craigslist indicating that he was “up for anything.” An undercover police officer responded to the ad and began communicating with Alexander in March.
Alexander, who told investigators he is married, allegedly wrote back to the undercover cop and said that “age is just a number” to him as long as she was “able to handle [him] in bed.” The cop informed Alexander that she was 14 and he said “wow” in response.
Alexander reportedly continued the correspondence even though he knew the undercover cop was a teen. According to records from the sheriff’s office, he once asked her why she was home alone, and she said she was on spring break and was watching a movie. Alexander then asked her if she would like to “get naked and dirty” and allegedly asked for photos of the teen’s genitals.
Over the next few days, he purportedly sent the undercover cop many nude pictures. When the officer expressed concern over the nature of the images he sent her, Alexander reportedly assured her by saying she was his “little secret” and she shouldn’t tell anyone or he’d get in trouble. The officer asked him to elaborate what he meant, and Alexander explained that he’d get in trouble because he is in his 30s and she’s a teenager. He then asked to meet up with her.
Over the course of their correspondence, Alexander reportedly sent 800 text messages to the teen. Investigators said he admitted to sending her nude pictures after his arrest and said it was “a lapse in judgment.” He denied plans to meet the teen for sex.
Another case involving sexual abuse on a minor was reported in Jupiter last week. Chad Thomas Gorman of Lake Park was arrested on May 23 after investigators allegedly found child pornography videos on his phone.
Gorman, 34, faces charges for sexual assault with a victim under 12, lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim under 12, having a victim under 12 come in contact with bodily fluids, and possession of obscene materials. He is being held without bond in Palm Beach County Jail. News sources did not name an attorney for him.
According to the police report, investigators gained access to Gorman’s phone after he was arrested on May 19 at a Wal-Mart in Jupiter for allegedly taking an upskirt picture of an 18-year-old woman without her knowledge.
Investigators found over 600 pictures and eight videos on his phone. Some of the videos reportedly show Gorman pleasuring himself in front of a little girl. When questioned about the videos, he reportedly said the child is 10 years old and that the sexual incidents began eight months ago.
Source: 5.30.17 Alexander Arrested on Child Cruelty and Obscene Communication Charges.pdf