LOCAL

Leon County teacher, several others, arrested on child sex charges in Tallahassee

Jeff Burlew
Tallahassee Democrat

A physical education teacher at Woodville PK-8 School and several other people were arrested on a variety of sex crimes involving a minor.

Brian Winsett, 51, was arrested Monday on three counts of lewd and lascivious behavior involving a 13-year-old girl and unlawful use of a communication device in furtherance of the crime, according to court records.

Brian Winsett

He was held in the Leon County Detention Center. On Tuesday, Leon County Judge Jason Jones set bond at $10,000 for each of the three lewd and lascivious counts and $1,000 on the communications charge.

Jones admonished Winsett during his first court appearance from having contact with his students or children in general.

"You're to have no unsupervised contact with minors," Jones told him. "I understand that your job may involve that, so you're to have no contact with them in that context."

Winsett was placed on leave as a result of the arrest, said Chris Petley, spokesman for Leon County Schools.

"We have been made aware of the arrest of Mr. Winsett," Petley said. "He's been placed on administrative leave so the district can conduct a thorough review of the case."

During an interview with Tallahassee police last year, Winsett acknowledged having sex with the girl and traveling to a residence to meet her, according to court records. Investigators found texts on his cellphone about prices and potential meeting locations, which included several local hotels.

Winsett, an LCS employee since 1993, was arrested last year in a Tallahassee Police Department prostitution sting after allegedly responding to a website advertisement.

He was suspended as a P.E. teacher at Montford Middle School but later reinstated and transferred to the Woodville school, where he also worked with middle school students.

He entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the State Attorney's Office, which allows charges to be dropped once terms are successfully completed.

The Tallahassee Police Department Friday, July 5, 2019. The current location is on the list of 10 proposed possible locations for the Tallahassee Police Department headquarters.

The agreement signed by Winsett and prosecutors last November prohibited him from committing any new offenses for a 12-month period; otherwise it would be revoked. However, court records show the State Attorney's Office formally dropped the charges on May 27, after only about six months. 

"The defendant has completed all conditions of the (agreement)," court documents say.

Arrest records detailing the allegations against Winsett were not immediately available.

It was not clear whether he was charged as part of a sweeping TPD investigation into child sex crimes and the human trafficking of a minor. 

Over the past couple of weeks, TPD and partner agencies have arrested some 20 people on crimes related to child sexual abuse and commercial sex trafficking. TPD has declined to discuss the case or even acknowledge it as arrests continue.

In a number of the cases — it’s unclear how many — the defendants were linked to the sexual abuse and exploitation of a 13-year-old homeless girl, according to court records.

The back story:

13-year-old homeless girl was victim in Tallahassee sex trafficking investigation

Ten people, including a candidate, arrested in Tallahassee on variety of child sex crimes

More people arrested in Tallahassee child sex, human trafficking investigation

Most of the defendants in the investigation were charged with lewd and lascivous battery and use of a two-way communication device in furtherance of their crimes.

Under Florida law, a person commits lewd and lascivious battery by engaging in sexual activity with a victim 12 to 16 or by encouraging or forcing someone under 16 to engage in sex. Ignorance of the victim's age is not a defense under the statutes.

Winsett was among four people arrested Monday. At least one other person was arrested Tuesday.

The most recent defendants include the following:

  • Joseph Manor, 47, two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior and one count of use of a communication device to facilitate a felony.
  • Stephen Pichard, 53, one count of lewd and lascivious behavior and one count of use of a communication device to facilitate a felony.
  • Erik Rivers, 47, one count of lewd and lascivious behavior and one count of use of a communication device to facilitate a felony.
  • Christopher Williams, 24, two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior; one county of human sex trafficking involving a victim less than 18; one count of use of a communication device to facilitate a felony; and six counts of possession of child pornography.

The Leon County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service have assisted in making the arrests, according to court records.

Others arrested earlier this month include Jermaine Miller, 29, a write-in candidate for the Tallahassee City Commission. Miller allegedly solicited the 13-year-old girl for sex.

More:Tallahassee City Commission write-in candidate arrested on charge of lewd behavior with a child

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.

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