After a short one-day trial this month, a St. Johns County jury found defendant Jonathan Manchester guilty as charged of Traveling to Meet a Minor, Soliciting a Minor for Sex using Computer Services, Unlawful Use of a Two-way Communication Device and Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery Sex Act.
In July 2022, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover operation, which targeted suspects using the internet to sexually exploit children.
During the operation, Manchester, who is from Citrus County north of Tampa, started a sexual conversation on the internet with an undercover detective who portrayed themselves as a 14-year-old girl.
According to law enforcement, the defendant then traveled more than two hours to meet the minor at a location in St. Johns County where he was arrested.
The case was investigated by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorneys Kaitlyn Payne and Holly Southworth successfully tried the case for the state. The Honorable Lee Smith presided over the case and will pronounce sentence at a later date.
Manchester faces up to 15 years in prison for the crimes.
