Judge Denies Motion to Reschedule Pretrial Detention Hearing for Man Caught in Child Predator Sting
Yesterday, Judge James Colaw denied a motion to reschedule the pretrial detention hearing for Richard Matthew Moore, 34, who faces charges of online child solicitation, using a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony and traveling to meet a child after online solicitation.
Moore was caught in the recent child predator sting operation conducted by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO).
Dubbed “Operation Firewall,” ACSO arrested 15 other men in the multi-day sting. Nearly all of them walked into Colaw’s courtroom for their detention hearing, and so far he hasn’t denied pretrial detention for a single one.
On August 1, Moore engaged in a conversation with an undercover (UC) detective on the apps Pure, and later Snapchat.
After UC advised her age, Moore replied, “Knowing you’re only 15 has made me throbbing hard.” Moore and UC discussed meeting in person.
Moore went on to send UC an image of his penis on Snapchat. Moore talked with UC about meeting up at a private location before he traveled to Alachua County to see her, where he was arrested.
Moore spoke to police in an interview that is summarized by Deputy Jayson Francis:
“[Moore] was interviewed post arrest at the Alachua County Sheriff's Office. Post Miranda, [Moore] admitted to using Pure and SnapChat via his cellular telephone to talk with the juvenile persona. [Moore] admitted to possessing and requesting images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from other children. [Moore] admitted to talking with other children for the purpose of sexual gratification. [Moore] admitted to talking with the juvenile persona for the purpose of sexual gratification. [Moore] admitted to using images of his own penis to send to the juvenile persona. [Moore] admitted to asking the juvenile persona to send an image of her lifting up their shirt. [Moore] stated that he did not want to meet the juvenile persona for the purpose of engaging in a sexual encounter. [Moore] admitted to deleting Snap Chat content before contact with law enforcement.”
Prosecutors motioned for pretrial detention shortly after Moore’s arrest and the hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.
On Monday, Moore formally retained private counsel. His new attorney, Evan Gardiner, made a motion to reschedule the pretrial detention for August 17. Gardiner told Colaw that he needs time to review the case, has scheduling conflicts and that the prosecution is unopposed.
Colaw denied the motion. The hearing remains scheduled for 9:00 a.m. tomorrow at the Alachua County Criminal Courthouse in Courtroom 3-C.
