An undercover operation in Osceola County has led to the arrest of a 21-year-old volunteer from a local nonprofit organization on allegations of child exploitation. Alberto "AJ" Jose Castaner Jr., associated with the Osceola Response Team, faces 10 felony charges, including solicitation of a minor and transmission of harmful material to minors. According to Positively Osceola, the case initially emerged when parents notified the sheriff's office about potentially inappropriate communications between Castaner and their 10-year-old daughter.
The investigation, conducted by the local Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit, involved deputies posing online as an 11-year-old girl to interact with Castaner. The young man is accused of having solicited explicit images and engaged in sexualized conversations, actions which eventually led to his arrest and a search warrant executed at his residence and workplace.
The WESH report noted several electronic devices were seized for forensic examination. Castaner, now in custody, has been slapped with a $25,000 bond. Anyone with information regarding the case or additional incidents is encouraged by the sheriff's office to come forward.
