Punta Gorda man sought oral sex with underage boys, deputies say

A Punta Gorda man soliciting oral sex from underage boys has been arrested in an undercover sting by deputies. It was a potential nightmare adverted by the parents of the teenagers.

It is hard for people at the Peace River RV Park to process the arrest of their neighbor, Bret Lee, 58.

“It’s not like a drug crime,” Karl Klawonn said. “If people are doing drugs, then they are hurting themselves. But, this guy is hurting other people. Especially children.”

Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputies said Lee randomly texted a phone number. That number belonged to a Charlotte County teenager. The suspect sent him explicit messages and asked the boy to meet up to perform oral sex.

That is when deputies interjected. Lee thought he was also texting another teenager, but it was a deputy. Lee was under the impression that he was meeting both kids to engage in sexual acts.

Lee waited for the teenagers at a McDonald’s in Port Charlotte, but grew impatient and drove north on U.S. 41. He was arrested a mile-and-a-half up the road.

The case serves as a reminder for parents to keep their eyes on their kids’ cell phone activity, especially when it is with an unknown number.

Lee is in jail, held on a $130,000 bond. CCSO said it had not received any similar complaints. However, it is asking for other victims to come forward.

“A lot of times nothing gets done,” said Sharon Ford, a neighbor. “It gets washed under the rug, so I hope they take care of this.”