Bait n' switch: Man accused of arranging for sex with detective posing as teen

CCSO

• Name: JEREMY JON KNOX
• Charge: OBSCENE-COMM-TRAVEL TO MEET AFTER USE COMPUT TO LURE CHILD, OBSCENE-COMM-USE COMPUTER TO SEDUCE SOLICIT LURE CHILD
• Residence: FT MYERS, FL 33974
• Age: 33
• Occupation: SALES
• Case #: Not yet available

A nearly three-month undercover investigation by Collier County sheriff's detectives resulted in the arrest of a Lee County man who is accused of trying to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex.

Jeremy Knox, 33, of Lehigh Acres, began chatting with an alias created by detectives posing as a 14-year-old girl in November 2011. Knox used the screen name ItalianNTheSouth and disclosed his age and location before telling the alias he wanted to perform a sex act on her.

Knox sent a photo of himself and told the alias he wanted to meet with her in November and December, but said he did not have time. Knox did not contact the alias for awhile in December but talked again about meeting in Janaury.

The alias expressed hesitation and Knox suggested meeting in a public place. The alias then suggested pretending she "was sick from school" and arranged a meeting in the area of Radio Road and Santa Barbara Boulevard in Naples Wednesday morning.

Detectives arrested Knox in the parking lot near the meeting place when he arrived in a "nice yellow car" he had previously described.

Knox faces charges of travelling to meet a minor for sexual purposes and soliciting a child for sex. He could not explain why he was in the parking lot. He was taken to Naples Jail Center without incident.