The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office recently announced the arrest of a man as part of an undercover sting targeting child predators.
Antoine Watts, 24, of Mobile, was arrested on December 8 after communicating with an undercover deputy who posed as a 14-year-old girl.
Watts was charged with electronic solicitation of a minor and transmitting obscene material to a child.
Investigators said Watts’ communications were “graphic and disturbing.” After soliciting sex through messaging, detectives said Watts traveled from Mobile to Baldwin County, where he was arrested.
“Watts communicated that he wanted the child to steal a car, he wanted to film them having sex, and he communicated that he is an adult content creator and he stars in the adult content,” Captain Daniel Steelman stated. “Watts' self-produced pornographic content was verified on several adult pornography websites. Watts was interviewed and admitted to transmitting the obscene material and admitted to coming to meet with who he believed to be a 14-year-old female for the purpose of engaging in sexual relations.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations worked with the sheriff’s office on the investigation.
Sheriff Anthony Lowery told 1819 News the sting was one of many over the course of two months.
“So, we've been doing these operations over the past couple months, and we're going to protect Baldwin County children whether that's online or in person, and unfortunately, this was the worst of both sides,” Lowery said. “But I want to thank our partners at Homeland Security, and I really want to thank the investigators that worked throughout the weekend, and obviously, some of these people weren't on duty every time this person tried to solicit them. So, we're really proud of the teamwork, and I will say this moving forward, we're going to continue this.”
Lowery said he hopes the arrest sends a message.
“We want people to know that if you're going to try to solicit a child in Baldwin County, there's a good chance you might be soliciting us and you're going to end up just like he did,” said Lowery.
Watts is considered innocent until proven guilty.
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