FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Fort Pierce Metropolis Commissioner James Taylor has resigned after being arrested on 24 felony counts associated to youngster exploitation, based on metropolis paperwork.
St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro introduced Taylor’s arrest final July 24, stating that the 38-year-old elected official was taken into custody following a visitors cease. The arrest adopted a multistate investigation by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Workplace Web Crimes Towards Youngsters unit, initiated in coordination with the Evanston Police Division in Illinois.
In response to Del Toro, the investigation started in August 2024 when a mom in Illinois contacted police reporting inappropriate contact through Snapchat along with her then 12-year-old daughter and an grownup male.
The communications allegedly escalated to incorporate sexually express messages and pictures, with Taylor reportedly sending nude photographs of himself and soliciting related content material from the sufferer. Forensic assessment linked Taylor’s IP deal with to his dwelling, confirming communication with the minor, based on the sheriff’s workplace.
Final week, Rep. Toby Overdorf known as for Taylor’s fast suspension.
Overdorf, a member of the Governor’s Job Power Towards Human Trafficking, issued a powerful condemnation of the alleged crimes, which contain Taylor’s purported use of Snapchat to ship sexually express content material to a 12-year-old woman.
“The arrest of Fort Pierce Metropolis Commissioner James Taylor for twenty-four felony counts of kid exploitation is past sickening—a disgusting betrayal that chills the soul,” Overdorf stated. “This predator, who used Snapchat to prey on a 12-year-old woman with vile, sexually express content material, should face the harshest penalties beneath the regulation. Governor DeSantis should droop this monster instantly.”
Taylor, who was elected metropolis commissioner in November 2024 is charged with embrace six counts every of transmission of supplies dangerous to minors, switch or show of obscenity to a minor, dangerous communication to a minor, and lewd laptop solicitation.
He additionally faces further counts associated to the solicitation youngster pornography through digital gadget or tools. All fees fall beneath Florida Statute 847.0135(a).
