Scott Kenneth Wooden (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
A veteran faculty board member from California was arrested in Florida after being caught in an undercover human trafficking operation.
Scott Kenneth Wooden, 60, was taken into custody final weekend and charged with one depend of soliciting one other to commit prostitution, authorities introduced.
Wooden was amongst 213 folks authorities arrested as a part of the seven-day sting operation referred to as “Operation Traffic Stop,” which started on Feb. 6 and was overseen by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit, officers mentioned in a news release.
According to an affidavit, the operation concerned undercover detectives posing as escorts and posting fictitious commercials on-line whereas male detectives posed as clients referred to as Johns responding to on-line commercials providing prostitution providers.
An spy on Feb. 10 posted an commercial on-line and was contacted by a person recognized as Wooden, the affidavit states.
During the textual content and cellphone conversations, Wooden allegedly agreed to return to the situation of the undercover operation and pay between $50 and $200 for varied sexual acts.
Wooden arrived on the location simply earlier than 5 p.m. and made contact with an undercover detective, in accordance with the affidavit. Wooden then allegedly instructed the detective that he wished to pay her $200 for intercourse with out a condom. Police then converged, and Wooden was arrested.
Wooden allegedly instructed authorities he “got caught doing something stupid,” information mentioned.
Wooden, a retired pharmaceutical scientist and member of the Del Mar Union School District Board of Trustees since 2010, was booked into the Polk County Jail on Feb. 11 and launched on Feb. 13 after posting $500 bail, online records present. He is because of seem in courtroom on Feb. 24.
The Del Mar Times reported that he has been married for 23 years and has two kids.
Authorities talked about Wooden’s arrest throughout a Thursday news convention asserting the top of the operation.
“Where would we be with a human trafficking operation without an elected official,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd mentioned whereas holding up a photograph of Wooden’s mugshot. “This guy knows better. He’s supposed to be a leader in the community. He’s an elected official. He’s making decisions for our children, and he’s out soliciting prostitutes.”
The faculty district mentioned in a press release that Wooden resigned from the District’s Governing Board of Trustees efficient instantly.
“The Board is currently exploring options to fill the vacancy,” the assertion mentioned. “We will keep the community informed as the District moves through this process.”