16-year-old among those charged in connection to MCSO sting operation

The week-long online undercover operation involved state, federal and local agencies and netted 58 arrests.


[Photo courtesy MCSO]

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Posted June 12, 2026 | By Andy Fillmore, [email protected]

A 16-year-old Ocala youth has become the first juvenile arrested in a Marion County Sheriff’s Office child sex crime chat sting, according to an MCSO spokesperson. The male youth, from northwest Ocala, was arrested June 4 during Operation Bad Habits, the most recent MCSO child sex crimes sting operation.The week-long online undercover operation, which involved state, […]

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