NEWBERRY, Fla. (TND) — A Florida activist was denied bail after being accused of sexting a teenage boy via Snapchat, WCJB reported.
Joel Searby, 43, was charged this week with lewd and lascivious behavior, communication to lure a minor, communication to travel to meet a minor and using a communication device to commit a felony. Arrest reports acquired by the outlet say the activist had attempted to solicit sex from an underaged boy.
Searby, a board member at local education organization Education First for Newberry, reportedly texted the boy asking if he had ever been attracted to an older man. The outlet noted Searby had mentioned his own sexual encounter with an adult man as a teen in that conversation.
The activist reportedly sent photos to the boy of his hand down his pants and invited him to his home. Law enforcement reportedly used the boy’s Snapchat account to continue messaging. Searby texted the officers through the boy’s account that he “would like to do more” with him than just “jerking off.”
Officers then executed a search warrant at Searby’s home where they arrested him, according to the outlet. The activist reportedly invoked his right to remain silent during the arrest.
Education First for Newberry wrote via Facebook it is “deeply troubled” by his arrest.
The allegations against him are gravely serious and contrary to our core values as an organization,” Education First for Newberry wrote. “We immediately severed all ties with him upon learning of this incident. We will fully cooperate with law enforcement and be of any assistance we can during this difficult time. The safety of our children is and will always be our #1 priority.”
Searby runs a Substack page where he promotes his political movement “New Way Politics.” That page features an image of Searby with his arms around a group of middle school basketball players.
Elsewhere on the page, he called for political leaders with “values,” such as committing to being “ethical, honest, humble and tough.” His most recent post from May 31 describes himself facing “very real mental & emotional challenges.”
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