An Ocala man has been arrested on an indictment charging him with the attempted enticement of a minor, less than two months after he was apprehended during a multi-day child sex sting operation in Marion County.
On Tuesday, September 10, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the arrest of 32-year-old Christopher Shaun Jonas in connection with the indictment, which alleges that Jonas attempted to entice a 13-year-old girl to have sex.
According to court records, on Tuesday, July 23, Jonas was allegedly using an “internet application designed for prostitution” when he contacted a profile that had been set up by a female undercover detective with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
The undercover detective told Jonas that she was a “13-year-old girl.” Jonas allegedly proceeded to describe, in graphic detail, all the sexual acts that he wanted the girl to perform on him.
The indictment alleges that Jonas agreed to pick up the child at a location in Marion County so they could have sex. When Jonas arrived at that location, he was met by law enforcement officers and placed under arrest.
In Jonas’ vehicle, investigators allegedly found a cellphone that had been used to communicate with the undercover detective.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
If convicted, Jonas faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Hannah Nowalk.
In August, a 59-year-old Ocala man was arrested on an indictment charging him with attempted enticement of a minor in connection with “Operation Summertime Blues,” a six-day child sex sting operation conducted by MCSO in July that led to more than 30 arrests.
A few days after MCSO reported the initial results of the sting operation, two more men were arrested by the sheriff’s office after they allegedly looked to engage in sexual activity with children.