Jury finds man guilty of trying to exploit a child

A man arrested during a Capital City Human Trafficking Taskforce sting operation was convicted Thursday for trying to exploit a child.

A Leon County jury found Jason Wilson, 43, guilty of traveling to meet a minor and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.

Undercover officers arrested Wilson July 20, 2023, in the parking lot of a Ross Dress For Less on Apalachee Parkway as he was headed to meet with what he thought was a 15-year-old girl, according to court records.

He initially believed he was speaking with an 18 year old, but after learning she was a minor, Wilson "continued a sexually explicit conversation with her throughout the day" and planned to meet her at a specific motel that night to have sex, according to a press release from the State Attorney's Office.

Wilson was one of 16 people arrested during two of the taskforce's undercover operations. His sentencing guidelines suggest as much as 15 years in prison.

Breaking & trending news reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com . Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Jury finds man guilty of trying to exploit a child