LAKE CITY, Fla. Two Lake City men have been arrested in separate undercover child exploitation investigations conducted by the Lake City Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, bringing the agency’s total number of child exploitation-related arrests this year to 16.
According to the Lake City Police Department, detectives conducted proactive undercover operations in which investigators posed as teenage girls online while monitoring a website commonly used to arrange illicit encounters.
Police said the investigations led to the arrests of 65-year-old James Alva Paulk of Lake City and 40-year-old Stephen Tyler Holland of Lake City.
Investigators allege that both men engaged in sexually explicit online conversations and arranged to meet individuals they believed were underage.
Paulk and Holland were arrested without incident and transported to the Columbia County Detention Center.
Police said the investigations involved advanced investigative techniques and cooperation with local, state and federal law enforcement partners. Additional arrests are expected as other investigations continue.
Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler said the department remains committed to identifying and arresting individuals who attempt to exploit children online.
The department also encouraged parents and guardians to remain actively involved in their children’s online activities, noting that offenders often use social media platforms, online gaming services and messaging applications to target minors.
Anyone with information about crimes involving child exploitation or other criminal activity is asked to contact the Lake City Police Department at 386-752-4343. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the LCPD TIPS line at 386-719-2068 or Crime Stoppers of Columbia County at 386-754-7099.