Local sex crime now a national case

Monday, November 14, 2005

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Police have arrested a Michigan man who they say brought an underage girl to Tampa to have sex.

Tampa police brought 47-year-old Leon Whitman to the Orient Road Jail on Sunday. Investigators say he paid for a 16-year-old girl to fly from Michigan to Tampa on Saturday without the knowledge or consent of her parents.

Detectives say Whitman had sex with the teen at the Wyndham Hotel on Westshore Boulevard. TPD was alerted to the incident early Sunday when the victim went for a walk and was spotted by a police officer who could tell something was wrong.

"She was quite upset about the sex acts that he had her perform in the hotel, and that's what prompted her to take a walk, walk around the streets of Tampa," said Tampa Police Spokesperson Joe Durkin. "And fortunately, a Tampa police officer came across her."

Police say Whitman admitted to having sex with the girl. Investigators found images of her and other females on a digital camera at the hotel.

Durkin said the victim is lucky that a police officer spotted her walking.

Whitman is charged with two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, three counts of computer pornography and one count of interference with custody. He is being held on $33,000 bond.

The FBI is now involved and is looking for other young girls around the country who may have been victimized, so more charges could be pending.