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Updated: 6:43 PM Jan 29, 2009
Internet Predator Sent to Prison
Man travelled to Tallahassee to meet teen for sex
Posted: 6:31 PM Jan 29, 2009Reporter: Julie Montanaro Email Address: julie.montanaro@wctv.tv |
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Our cameras were rolling when he arrived to meet a teenage girl for sex and they were rolling Thursday when he was led away to prison.
Jerry Leon is one of the first men to be sentenced under a new Florida law that mandates longer prison sentences for those internet predators willing to put down the mouse and get behind the wheel.
56 year old Jerry Leon - clad in a blue windbreaker and wire rim glasses - stood with his hands behind his back as he entered a no contest plea and was sentenced to five years in state prison and five years probation.
It could have been worse. He faced up to 35 years behind bars.
"The consequences are so severe that good sense says take it and run," said Leon's Attorney, Robert Harper, of the plea deal.
Leon was arrested outside a Killearn convenience store back in November of 2007.
He was arrested in a sting after travelling from Jacksonville to meet what he thought was a 13 year old girl he'd been chatting with on line.
He was met by FDLE agents instead, who say the on line chat became sexually graphic right away.
"This case turned to sex quite quickly. It was about a month of talk on the internet before he wanted to meet," said Mike Phillips with FDLE's Computer Crimes Unit.
Leon was among the first to be sentenced under a new Florida law that requires a minimum five year sentence for any internet predator willing to travel to meet his prey.
After giving a DNA sample and inking his fingerprints, the husband and father was taken into custody to begin doing time.
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