Pinellas County detectives arrested a University of Tennessee football player for trying to have sex with a 14-year-old girl.
Special Victims Unit investigators say 23-year-old Mackenzie "Mack" Crowder began an online conversation beginning on January 21 with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.
During Crowder's various online conversations, he sent four photos of his sexual organ to the "minor." Detectives say Crowder also enticed or solicited the "girl" to have sex with him multiple times.
Crowder made arrangements to meet with the "minor" in person Tuesday in Pinellas County. Deputies arrested Crowder when he arrived around 6:45 p.m.
During an interview, detectives say Crowder admitted to sending the four photos and admitted he knew he was communicating with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.
Crowder was charged with one-count certain use of computer services prohibited and four-counts of transmission of material harmful to a minor.
The arrest was made as part of "Operation Wayfarer," a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office operation targeting men who are using the internet for the purpose of engaging in sex with underage girls.
