CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Florida man is accused of persuading minors to allow him to smell and touch their feet -- and also to commit sexual acts -- by offering them vaping products and marijuana, authorities said.
Brandon Michael White, 22, of Tarpon Springs, is facing 11 charges, including seven counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, one count of lewd and lascivious battery, one count of lewd and lascivious conduct, and two counts of unlawful use of a two-way communications device, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Wednesday.
Deputies said the victims are all under the age of 16, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
According to the news release, detectives began an investigation in April 2021 after learning of alleged inappropriate conduct between White and a female minor. Detectives said White asked for lewd acts in exchange for vaping devices. Detectives said White contacted his victims through Snapchat and Instagram.
“White asked to smell and touch the victims’ feet in exchange for nicotine and marijuana products,” the sheriff’s office said in its news release. “Detectives say White also received various sexual acts from the victims.”
White was interviewed by detectives Wednesday and “admitted to meeting with multiple females,” the Times reported.
He was arrested and booked into the Pinellas County Jail, according to the news release.
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