The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office on Monday arrested an 18-year-old man on charges of prostituting a 15-year-old girl. Officials said it’s is the second time in less than two months that Jonathan Padilla has been arrested for a similar incident. Agents conducted an undercover operation at the Chateau Motel at 3518 W. Vine St. in Kissimmee, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Officials said an undercover agent sent several text messages to a female who agreed to meet her at the motel. Deputies said Padilla and his girlfriend, who is also 15-years-old, left the room where the undercover agent was supposed to meet the girl. When the agent entered the room, the 15-year-old girl was found hiding in the bathroom, deputies said. The Sheriff’s Office said the girl cooperated with agents and told them she was with Padilla and his girlfriend. A state check revealed the girl was reported missing from the Tampa area.
Agents said they found Padilla and charged him with procuring a person under 18 for prostitution, interference with custody, deriving from proceeds of prostitution, unlawful use of a two-way radio and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The Sheriff’s Office said an investigation is ongoing, with additional charges pending for the 15-year-old girl and Padilla’s girlfriend.