A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arresting deputy has been arrested and suspended without pay after he tried to pay for sex with someone he believed to be a minor, authorities said.
Marvin Vasquez, 24, was off-duty when St. Petersburg police arrested him Saturday. He faces charges of human trafficking: commercial sexual activity and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
“I am extremely disappointed that a person sworn to serve and protect is now facing charges related to such egregious behavior,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a news release. “It will not be tolerated by anyone, and certainly not by an officer of the law,” he added.
Vasquez joined the sheriff’s office in January.
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