Originally from Ohio, United States, Timothy Wellman, 36, recently moved to Polk County, Florida, USA. He is a U.S. Army veteran using his G.I. Bill for college.
Wellman is accused of communicating with who he thought was a girl aged 14 on social media and via cell phone. He allegedly told the purported girl she was cute and described the sexual acts he wanted to do to her.
One night, Wellman went out to meet the purported girl. While he was on his way, he talked to his children on the phone and told them goodnight.
Unbeknownst to Wellman, the purported girl he had been communicating with was actually an undercover detective posing as a girl aged 14. The U.S. Army veteran was arrested when he arrived at the undercover location.
It was part of a sting operation held from September 19-26, 2023, which involved the sheriff’s departments of four Florida counties namely Hillsborough, Lake, Orange and Polk and the police departments of three Florida cities namely Haines, Lakeland and Tampa. During the operation, detectives posed as children or guardians of children on mobile apps, online dating sites and social media platforms to investigate adults trying to meet children online for sex.
Including Wellman, six suspects showed up to the undercover location. He was booked into the Polk County Jail in Bartow, Polk County and charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, attempted lewd battery and use of two-way communication device to commit a felony.
CONAN Daily 