Two sports-related people face charges of seeking to have sex with minors after a sting in Florida led to 40 arrests.
The Osceola County Sheriff's office says former Champions Tour golfer Steve Thomas and swim coach Bryan Woodward are among those suspected of traveling to meet minors for sex in the undercover operation.
The sting, dubbed "Operation Red Cheeks," began Jan. 8 and ran through Monday, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Detectives posed online in chat rooms and instant messaging programs as children, parents or guardians. Officials said that in some cases the suspects responded with pornographic images, and in others they brought alcohol or drugs to the meetings.
Thomas, according to PGATour.com, had one top 10 finish in 44 PGA Tour events. He was more successful on the Champions Tour, where he competed as recently as 2010 and had $290,000 in career earnings, with two top-10 finishes. He's 55 and lives in Meridian, Miss.
Woodward, 29, coached with the Gator Swim Club in Gainesville. It is a private organization, and isn't affiliated with the University of Florida.
Club owner Kathleen Troy told the Gainesville SunWoodward is no longer with the team. She added that he was hired in 2010 and had coached children in different age groups, and said the club does extensive background checks.
"If anything had come up, we would not have hired him," Troy told the Sun.
The Sentinel said Woodward's arrest arrest affidavit quoted him as writing online that "younger girls turn me on," and that he discussed graphic sex acts and brought candy with him for the meeting.
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