A man was arrested after allegedly exchanging online messages with someone he believed was 14. The person was an undercover Orange County deputy, WKMG reported. The man reportedly faces two counts of solicitation of a minor and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
According to WKMG, the person the man contacted online was an undercover Orange County deputy who said he was 14.
How Investigators Say They Tracked Him Down
WKMG reported that Exline allegedly asked twice for nude photos and discussed an in-person meeting after the conversation moved to another platform. The meeting did not happen. According to the station, investigators used digital warrants to trace the account: a Snapchat search led to an Apple account, and facial recognition connected that account to a Venmo profile and Exline’s identity.
WKMG reported that selfies associated with the Apple account showed Exline wearing a Universal name badge. The station said Exline had worked as a team leader in Universal’s attractions department and that Universal confirmed he is no longer with the company.
Charges Carry Felony Weight Under State Law
The unlawful use of a two-way communication device charge is classified as a third-degree felony. Under Florida Statute 934.215, that offense prohibits using a device like a phone to facilitate or further a felony, according to a legal explainer from the law firm Meltzer & Bell. The same explainer notes the charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, probation, and a $5,000 fine.
What the cited law says
Florida Statute 847.0135 says an undercover operative’s involvement in detecting and investigating an offense under that section is not a defense to prosecution; that provision does not establish whether the allegations in this case are proven. The sources cited here do not set out the elements or potential penalties for the solicitation counts. The existing legal explainer describes the two-way communication device charge as a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
WKMG reported that the Orange County Sheriff's Office declined an interview request Wednesday, saying it could not disclose investigative tactics in the case. The agency urged parents to stay vigilant, describing them as the first and strongest line of defense for children online.
National context and a separate Orlando operation
National figures offer context, not a Florida-specific count or trend. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention says Internet Crimes Against Children task forces conducted nearly 347,000 investigations in 2025, leading to more than 17,000 arrests. The national program includes 61 task forces representing more than 6,200 federal, state, local and Tribal law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. Separately, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children said its CyberTipline received 1.4 million reports concerning online enticement in 2025. That is a report total, not a Florida-specific count or a tally of unique victims.
In a separate Orlando case, WFTV reported that an Orlando Police Department-FBI operation called Operation Relentless Pursuit began March 26, 2025, and led to 15 arrests. In that operation, suspects went to a set location to meet people they believed were 13 or 14; the circumstances differ from the arrest described here.
