Two arrested in underage sex stings

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Marc Anthony Herrera, 42, and Mauricio Santos Rivera, 21, were arrested yesterday in separate underage sex stings by the Gainesville Police Department and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

Marc Herrera

Herrera, a registered Sex Offender, allegedly made contact yesterday with an undercover GPD officer posing as a 14-year-old boy living in north Gainesville. The undercover officer reportedly posted an ad on a social networking website and then engaged in conversation with Herrera, first by email and then by text messages.

The officer reported that when Herrera was told he was chatting with a 14-year-old boy, he initially said it was “a little too much of a risk” but then responded again about 20 minutes later, saying he was 42 years old but was interested. Herrera allegedly sent two videos of himself masturbating to the officer, then said he wanted “another boy,” too.

Post Miranda, Herrera reportedly admitted sending the messages but denied knowing the individual was purported to be 14 years old, stating that he “overlooked” the initial email with the age and that the later text messages with the age of the purported boy were “delayed.” However, the officer noted that was inconsistent with the overall conversation and the timing of the messages.

Herrera has been charged with two counts of transmitting obscene material to a minor, using a computer to solicit a child to commit a sexual act, and using a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony. He was previously convicted of criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13 years old in Wayne County, Michigan, and is a registered Sexual Offender.

Bail information for sexual crimes is not public.

Mauricio Rivera

Rivera, of Alachua, allegedly responded yesterday to an ad placed on a social media website by an undercover Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy. The deputy posed as the mother of a 13-year-old girl who was soliciting her daughter for sex.

After Rivera contacted the deputy by text message, he was reportedly told that the ad was for a 13-year-old girl; when asked what he was looking for, he responded that he wanted to kiss and engage in sexual intercourse without a condom. Rivera allegedly sent a picture of his genitals to the undercover deputy.

Deputies arranged a meeting at a Gainesville gas station, and Rivera allegedly drove to that location at 11:19 p.m. last night; he was taken into custody without incident.

Post Miranda, Rivera reportedly admitted agreeing to pay the deputy $50 to have sex with a 13-year-old girl and sending a picture of his genitals.

Rivera has been charged with two counts of transmitting obscene material to a minor, traveling to meet a minor after using a communications device to solicit sex, and using a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony.

Rivera has no local criminal history; bail information for sexual crimes is not public.

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.