PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — A 32-year-old man from Ponte Vedra Beach was arrested Thursday after soliciting a minor for sex, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
Tracy Shackelford thought he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl when in fact it was an undercover investigator with the SJSO.
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Investigators posted an ad online indicating they were a female child when Shackelford reached out. Over a 24-hour time frame, Shackelford went into “explicit detail” about the sexual acts he wanted to perform and that he wanted to meet up with the minor, according to SJSO.
Then, Shackelford and who he thought was the 13-year-old child arranged to meet at a predetermined location in Ponte Vedra.
When Shackelford arrived, to his surprise, was greeted by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and arrested without incident.
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Shackelford was charged with four felonies: traveling to meet a minor, attempted lewd and lascivious battery, soliciting a minor for sex, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
He has since bonded out of jail and is awaiting trial.