A Brooksville man, Sean Kevin Dooley, has recently been handed a three-year prison sentence, followed by a five-year term of sex offender probation, for his attempts to meet with a minor for sexual purposes. The announcement was made via a media release on the Hernando County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, detailing the conclusion of an undercover operation that targeted individuals seeking to engage in illicit activities with minors.

The operation, which led to the arrest of Dooley among eight suspects on July 17, 2024, was aimed at protecting the community's children from sexual predators. Notably, the majority of those arrested, including Dooley, were residents of Hernando County. According to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, Dooley believed he was conversing with a 15-year-old girl and made arrangements to meet her within the county for the purpose of engaging in sexual activities.

The transcript of Dooley's conversation, obtained during the operation, showed him engaging in sexually explicit talks with an undercover detective posing as a minor. It wasn't until July 18, 2024, that detectives apprehended Dooley. In the course of the confession, Dooley was found admitting to the detectives, having had these conversations and made plans to meet the juvenile.

Following his arrest, Dooley faced charges including traveling to meet a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. He was placed in Hernando County Detention Center with his bond set at $30,000. The Hernando County Sheriff's Office also encouraged anyone with additional information on the case to contact Hernando County Crime Stoppers anonymously, offering a reward up to $5,000 for helpful tips.