Anti-Trump Political Consultant Arrested for Crimes against Children
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A veteran anti-Trump political consultant has been arrested on multiple charges of crimes against children, according to reports.
Joel Searby, who led ex-CIA officer Evan McMullin’s independent presidential bid in 2016, has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies relating to child sex crimes.
43-year-old Searby is charged with felony counts of lewd and lascivious behavior, communicating to lure a minor, traveling to lure a minor, and using a device to commit a felony.
Searby is currently being held at the Alachua County Jail without bond.
According to the arrest report, Searby used the messaging platform Snapchat to groom an underage boy.
He reportedly sent inappropriate pictures and text messages to a 15-year-old child.
Searby then attempted to lure the boy to a meeting in order to rape him.
Police said Searby used a fake name and photo to trick the child into meeting up with him.
According to investigators, Searby was caught after he started contacting a real child.
However, the boy’s family reported the inappropriate message to authorities.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office took over the boy’s account and continued communication with Searby.
A judge then granted a search warrant for the RINO consultant’s home.