Fairhope man arrested in internet sex sting

FAIRHOPE, Ala. (WALA) - It was code named Operation Red Cheeks.  Multiple law enforcement agencies from central and south Florida spent last week clearing the streets of would-be sexual predators.  Their tool:internet. Their bait: chat rooms.

“The detectives were putting information out about children having sex, and individuals would respond back to the ad thinking they were either talking to an underage child or the parent or guardian of an underage child to arrange for sex with that child,” Osceola County Sheriff’s spokesperson, Twis Lizasuain said in a phone interview.

There was no shortage of responses.  

The suspects were asked to meet; some at an undisclosed home in the Kissimmee area, and some at other locations.  

Forty men were arrested for various sex related crimes committed against a minor. The suspects came from a variety of backgrounds.

“They had varying ages,” Lizasuain said. “We arrested a head swim coach, a professional golfer on the Senior PGA Tour, an eighth grade teacher, in addition to business professionals, consultants and quite surprisingly, eight college students. ”

Some of those arrested live as far away as Georgia, Alaska and 39-year-old Carl Davis Brooks Newsome from Fairhope, AL.  

Newsome was out of jail and back home today.  

He declined an on camera interview, but said he felt he was lured there unfairly by detectives and never had ill intentions.

“There was an ad that was posted on the internet,” Lizasuain pointed out. “He willingly responded to that ad, had multiple conversations with what he thought was the stepfather of a 14-year-old child. (He) agreed to meet with both the stepfather and the child. (He) actually came to the home. So, there was probable cause to make that arrest and to charge him with various sex charges. ”

Neighbors in Newsome’s quiet east Fairhope community said that they’re very upset by this news, but that they’re real concern lies with the Newsome family.  

Though they had plenty to say, none of them wanted to go on camera.  

Friends of the Newsome’s said the news of his arrest came as a shock, and they’re worried how the fallout will affect Newsome’s wife and children.  They’re also concerned about the close proximity of J. Larry Newton Elementary School, which is right next to the neighborhood.

Lizasuain said there are some clear messages to be taken from these arrests.

“The message to parents is they need to be monitoring their children’s activities,” she said. “The message to children is they need to be careful what chat rooms and message boards they’re posting information on and the message to sex predators is law enforcement does conduct these operations. You will be caught and you will be arrested. ”

Newsome faces several charges including travel and use of a computer to seduce a child to commit sex acts.  If convicted, he will carry “sex offender” status for the rest of his life.