Richard Hoyt Crawford Jr. (pictured) was placed into custody following a sting operation orchestrated by the Seminole County police department
A former NASCAR driver was arrested on Saturday after police in Florida said he attempted to solicit sex from a 12-year-old girl.
According to a court documents, Richard Hoyt Crawford Jr. was placed into custody following a sting operation orchestrated by the Seminole County police department.
The 59-year-old Alabama native was a NASCAR driver in the truck series for more than 12 years and drove from 1997 to 2009.
A criminal complaint shows that the 12-year-old Crawford Jr. allegedly wanted sex from didn’t exist and the person posing as her father was an undercover agent.
The operation was conducted on Feb. 10 after Crawford Jr. responded to to an advertisement on the internet posted by an undercover agent, according to NBC affiliate WESH 2.
Police say that Crawford Jr. negotiated with the law enforcement agent posing as the 12-year-old’s father, asking how much he was thinking for the interaction.
Authorities arranged a meeting with the 59-year-old on Feb. 28 at a Wendy’s parking lot on Lake Mary Boulevard (pictured)
The 59-year-old Alabama native was a NASCAR driver in the truck series for more than 12 years and drove from 1997 to 2009
When the agent replied that the cost depended on what Crawford wanted, the ex-motorist responded by saying ‘Ok, I want it all,’ then asked for the address.
The complaint goes on to state that negotiations between the undercover agent and Crawford went on for weeks, with the latter repeatedly asking how much money it would cost for the interaction.
Crawford (car pictured above) allegedly agreed to to pay $50 to $75 for sexual activity with the underage girl
At one point in the negotiations, the agent asked Crawford if he had ever made a similar arrangement before, to which he replied: ‘Paid for it. Yes.’
Crawford finally agreed to to pay $50 to $75 for sexual activity with the underage girl, according to the court complaint.
The agent then arranged a meeting with the 59-year-old on Feb. 28 at a Wendy’s parking lot on Lake Mary Boulevard.
When Crawford arrived and affirmed that he wanted to see the 12-year-old girl, police executed the arrest.
Crawford allegedly told authorities while in custody that he would not have engaged in sexual activity if the child had been underage.
Crawford has been charged with attempted enticement of a minor and is in custody at the Seminole County Jail, according to WESH 2.