SWFL group’s efforts lead to deputy’s arrest in child predator investigation

A man sworn under oath to serve and protect was caught preying on someone who he believed was a teenage girl. Members of an online group talked with a deputy for months until there was enough evidence against him. It’s a breakthrough for the work team members have conducted together to catch predators.

Southwest Florida Exposure Group helped investigate Charlotte County Deputy Martin William Allen, 41, who was arrested Sunday after he believed he was agreeing to meet with a 15-year-old girl.

The exposure group’s team members were not police officers, sheriff’s deputies or undercover agents. Instead, they were convicted felons and others who spent 10 months building a case against a suspected child predator they identified online.

When enough evidence was gathered, the group contacted Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. While the sheriff’s office made the arrest, CCSO investigators didn’t work the case until the very end.

“It’s heart wrenching that somebody can even have that mindset and try to take advantage of it as a child,” said Rebecca Freeman with Southwest Florida Exposure Group. “It’s just disgusting.”

Submit