Newberry man arrested in Gainesville for traveling to meet a minor for sex

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Richard Matthew Moore, 34, of Newberry, was arrested yesterday for traveling to meet a minor for unlawful sexual activity as part of a multi-agency undercover operation.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office hosted “Operation Firewall” from Thursday, July 30, through Saturday, August 1, as part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, bringing together local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.

As part of that operation, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy reportedly engaged in an online conversation with Moore on Pure and then on Snapchat; the deputy’s persona was a 15-year-old girl.

Moore reportedly acknowledged the age of the juvenile persona and allegedly continued having a sexual conversation; he allegedly told her that he was turned on by knowing she was only 15.

Moore and the persona allegedly discussed meeting in person on August 1; when the conversation resumed on August 3, Moore allegedly sent an image of his genitals.

Moore allegedly drove to a park in Gainesville with the intention of meeting the juvenile and was arrested at the park.

Post Miranda, Moore reportedly admitted to using Pure and Snapchat on his phone to communicate with the juvenile persona and admitted to talking with other minors for the purpose of sexual gratification. He also reportedly admitted to sending images of his genitals to the juvenile persona and asking her to send a picture of herself with her shirt lifted up, but he said he did not want to meet her for the purpose of engaging in a sexual encounter. He reportedly admitted to deleting Snapchat content before making contact with law enforcement.

Moore has been charged with using a device to solicit a minor for the purpose of having sex, traveling to meet a minor after using a computer to lure the child, and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. He has no local criminal history, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.