PALATKA, FL — A Palatka man who was the target of a private vigilante sting operation has been arrested on multiple felony child exploitation charges following a multi-week, independent forensic investigation by local police.
Caleb Steven Roberts was located and arrested on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Hillsborough County on an active warrant obtained by the Palatka Police Department. Roberts is currently being held on a $55,000 bond.
His formal charges include:
- Traveling to Meet a Minor
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
- Transmission of Harmful Material to a Minor by Electronic Device
- Soliciting a Child (or a Person Believed to Be a Child) for Unlawful Sexual Conduct Using a Computer Service or Electronic Device
Roberts was a youth pastor at Victory Church in East Palatka.
Police Clarify Role of Vigilante Group ‘Operation 17:2’
The arrest follows substantial public inquiry regarding why Roberts was not taken into custody immediately when confronted by an outside group. Palatka Police Department officials released a statement clarifying that a private entity known as “Operation 17:2” initiated the encounter, operating completely outside the direction, supervision, or partnership of law enforcement.
While the group’s actions ultimately generated a call for police service, Palatka authorities emphasized that information provided by citizen entrapment or vigilante groups cannot legally be accepted at face value. To build a case capable of satisfying constitutional standards and withstanding judicial scrutiny, detectives had to launch a completely independent criminal inquiry before an arrest warrant could be issued.
Forensic Cyber Investigations Solidify Case
Over several weeks, Palatka investigators built a legally sound case from the ground up to verify the digital footprint associated with the allegations. The exhaustive forensic process included:
- Obtaining and executing formal search warrants for electronic devices.
- Conducting rigorous forensic analysis of digital evidence.
- Verifying IP address locations and corresponding electronic provider records.
- Independently confirming the accuracy, timeline, and authenticity of the communications.
Following the completion of the digital audit, detectives secured a formal arrest warrant on June 9, 2026, culminating in Roberts being tracked down and jailed two weeks later.
“While public concern in cases involving crimes against children is understandable, our responsibility is to ensure every case is built on independently verified evidence that can be successfully prosecuted in court,” the department noted in a public brief.