The Nassau County Sheriff's Office posted an alert on its Facebook page advising the public that "a registered sexual predator has been advertising a yard sale for this weekend."
Matthew Tucker, who lives at 85042 Halls Lane in Yulee, has been asking for the public's help through social media in setting up the sale.
Tucker has been using a woman's name to set up the sale on various social media outlets, the Sheriff's Office said.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Florida Sexual Offenders and Predators online search, Tucker was adjudicated guilty in 2002 of lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim 12-15 years old, offender 18 or older.
Tucker told Action News Jax that he's just trying to make a living and said he can't do that any other way.
"No, nobody wants to hire somebody labeled as a sexual predator because of the people on Facebook, because of the way society is now," Tucker said.
The items were listed for sale at his girlfriend's house.
"The reason why she puts that address on there 'cause on Google, it automatically pops up as sexual predator," Tucker said.
But Action News Jax law and safety expert Dale Carson said parents' concerns about yard sales are real.
"Little toys, whether they're cars or dolls or action figures, it is bait basically for the predator to use in the acquisition of potential victims," Carson said.
Carson said while there is reason to worry, it appears Tucker isn't doing anything illegal. We did speak with several of Tucker's neighbors who said they have no problem with him or the sale. But still, others on social media say it's something he shouldn't be doing.
Trending on ActionNewsJax.com:
- Police to public: Please stop texting, calling drug suspect's phone
- MMA fighter Jordan Parsons dies following Florida hit-and-run
- Basset Hounds wouldn't leave dying infant's side
- Videos, 911 calls released in Seminole County triple-murder-suicide
- Former administrator at Episcopal School arrested in Alachua County
Cox Media Group
