Highlands County deputies arrested a St. Petersburg man in the parking lot of a Walgreens in Avon Park after he allegedly drove there to meet who he believed was a 15-year-old girl, wrapping up an undercover online sting set up by investigators.
Detectives identified the suspect as 44-year-old David Richard Letro. He is accused of four counts of using a computer to seduce or lure a child, traveling to meet a child after using a computer to lure, interference with the custody of a minor and an open-container violation, according to WFLA.
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit reported that a detective posed online as a 15-year-old, exchanged messages with Letro and arranged a 9 p.m. meet-up in the Walgreens parking lot. Investigators said Letro allegedly invited the decoy to swim and drink margaritas at a house he said he was house-sitting in the Sun 'n Lake community, WFLA reported.
Body-camera footage shows deputies moving in as soon as Letro parked, pulling him from his vehicle and placing him in handcuffs, according to WFLA. The Sheriff’s Office said the Special Victims Unit led the operation and that the investigation is ongoing.
How Investigators Catch Online Predators
Undercover decoys are a standard tactic in online enticement cases, and federal initiatives such as Project Safe Childhood coordinate local, state and federal agencies to identify and prosecute people who try to meet minors for sexual contact. The Department of Justice says these efforts typically pair trained investigators with local units to set up decoys and arrest suspects at prearranged meeting spots, which is meant to minimize risk to the public and potential victims, according to the Department of Justice.
Highlands County officials asked anyone with information related to the case to call the sheriff's non-emergency line at 863-402-7200, according to the Highlands County Sheriff's Office. The Special Victims Unit said it will present the case to prosecutors as the investigation develops.
Legal note: The charges against Letro are allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Computer-facilitated enticement and related offenses carry significant penalties if convicted, and prosecutors frequently coordinate with other agencies on cases involving online activity.
