A Navy Chief from Jacksonville has been hit with multiple charges after allegedly traveling more than 250 miles away to meet a 14-year-old minor in Sarasota that he met online that same day.
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested Travis Paul Deel, 39, last Thursday and charged him with obscene communication using a computer, traveling to meet a minor after using a computer, and transmission of harmful material to a minor.
According to the arrest report, on July 17 an undercover agent received a message from Deel via an online chat website. The arrest report states that they exchanged phone numbers and started texting.
Deputies say that the undercover agent told Deel that they were 14 years old and Deel replied, "Nice, you okay that I'm 40?".
The arrest report states that Deel continued messaging the undercover agent with things like "Never did anything like this before, especially with someone your age" and "your so young and so damn sexy..."
The arrest report says that the conversation soon became sexually explicit and Deel sent the minor a photo of himself fully naked.
SCSO says that on that same day, Deel traveled to meet the minor in Sarasota County with the intent to engage in inappropriate activities.
According to deputies, Deel later admitted that he drove from Jacksonville to meet the minor and engage in sexual activity. The arrest report states that Deel also admitted to sending the fully nude photo knowing that the girl was only 14.
He told police that he purchased condoms at the Navy Exchange in Jacksonville.
According to a LinkedIn profile of a Jacksonville man with his same name, Deel is a Corpsman with over 19 years of history with the Navy. He also lists himself as being a Master Training Specialist.
Deel's arraignment will be Aug. 23.