DOC chaplain arrested on child porn charges
CCSO photo graphic.
On Friday, Oct. 27, 58 year-old Robert William Austin, of Sanderson, Florida - a chaplain with the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) - was arrested as a result of an online undercover investigation, Operation Lucky Strike, conducted in March, 2023 by members of the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) High Tech Crimes Unit (HTCU) in coordination with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
During Operation Lucky Strike, law enforcement officials created fictitious profiles - that purported to be of children - on various websites, awaiting solicition by way of online messages. Despite knowing the child's age, many people sent sexually explicit pictures or messages that detailed sexual activities they wanted to perform with the child. Some even drove over an hour, thinking they were meeting with a minor they would engage in sexual activity with. However, they were instead greeted by law enforcement personnel.
Austin had corresponded with and sent sexually explicit images to a law enforcement official he believed was a 14 year-old girl. The CCSO obtained a warrant for Austin's arrest. However, when officials went to Austin's Sanderson (Baker County), Florida residence, he was not there.
On October 27, Austin sent a lewd picture to the law enforcement officer - whom he believed was a juvenile - and advised the officer that he was fishing at a location near Jacksonville, Florida. CCSO HTCU detectives contacted Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers in Jacksonville, who detailed the location where Austin was fishing. Detectives traveled to the Jacksonville location and arrested him on a bench warrant.
Austin was charged with seven counts of transmission of material harmful to a minor, two counts of computer pornography - seducing, soliciting, luring, or enticing a child to engage in an illegal act; and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device. He was booked at the John E. Goode Pre-trial Detention Facility in Jacksonville, with his bond set at $20,000.
"The safety of everyone in our respective communities is a common goal amongst all law enforcement of this great state," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "Austin knowingly sent sexually explicit messages to who he believed was a minor. Preying on children is despicable - especially when you are in a position of trust and you utilize that status for vile acts. Thanks to the continuous partnerships between CCSO and fellow agencies throughout Florida, this abhorrent individual was brought to justice."
If you suspect that someone is committing a crime against a minor, please call (352) 249-2790 to immediately report your suspicions to the CCSO. Or download the CCSO App and use the "Submit a Tip" feature to make a report instantly.
CCSO App for android devices:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ocv.citruscountyflsheriff&hl=en_US&gl=US
CCSO App for Apple devices:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/citrus-county-sheriffs-office/id1481134574
CCSO App users can look up Sexual Offenders in their area by clicking on the "Sexual Offenders" feature, which will show a photo of the offender, their name, physical descriptors, address, and your approximate distance from their location (if your App location setting is turned on).