Manatee Sheriff's Sergeant Arrested In Online Teen Sex Chat Sting

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — A Manatee County Sheriff's sergeant has been arrested after being accused of having a sexually explicit online chat with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

In reality, the minor was a Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputy who'd been working undercover since July 24 chatting with men on a social media app.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Manatee County Sheriff's Sgt. Stephen Utter, 37, was immediately told the "girl's" age when he began chatting with her. Nevertheless, during conversations online and via text message, Utter sent explicit messages detailing sexual acts he wished to perform on her.

When the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office told the Manatee County Sheriff's Office of the investigation, they worked together to arrest Utter Tuesday afternoon at the Manatee County Fairgrounds during a work-related exercise.

Utter was booked into the Manatee County Jail on charges of unlawful use of a two-way communications device, transmission of harmful material to a minor and use of computer devices to solicit certain illegal acts.

"This is a deeply disturbing incident, and we are thankful that the person on the other end of those chats and vulgar text messages was a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputy, not a real child,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “The conduct of this sergeant is in no way a reflection of the thousands of deputies across Tampa Bay who are committed to serving their communities with integrity. We will not tolerate this predatory behavior from anyone, including a fellow law enforcement officer, as displayed by the quick actions both the Manatee and Hillsborough County sheriff's offices took to arrest this individual.”

"It is extremely upsetting to learn that a member of the Manatee County Sheriffs' Office participated in such despicable, unlawful behavior," Manatee Sheriff Rick Wells said. "These actions are shocking and unacceptable on all levels. I would like to commend Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office detectives for their diligent work in removing this threat to the most vulnerable in the community, our children."

Utter was hired by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office in October 2011 and assigned to the Corrections Bureau. The sheriff's office said the deputy was terminated.