HOMOSASSA, FL — A 36-year-old Citrus County man has been arrested on multiple felony charges after allegedly using social media to solicit and arrange meetings with what he believed were two young children.
Joshua Lee Head, of Homosassa, was taken into custody on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, following a joint investigation by the Columbia County, Marion County, and Citrus County Sheriff’s Offices. Head is currently being held in custody on a $350,000 bond.
He faces the following charges under Florida State Statute:
- Use of a computer to solicit, seduce, or lure a child
- Transmission of information harmful to minors
- Use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony
Target of Multi-Agency Undercover Operation
The arrest was part of “Operation Bad Habits,” a week-long, multi-agency undercover sting targeting child sex predators across Florida. According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the operation has resulted in the arrests of more than 58 individuals, including coaches, teachers, and parents, with additional arrests anticipated.
During the operation, internet crimes investigators posed online as minors of various ages to identify individuals attempting to solicit children or arrange face-to-face meetings.
Digital Tracking and Apprehension
According to investigators, Head used social media to communicate with an undercover detective from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office who was operating as part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Law enforcement officials stated that Head believed he was communicating simultaneously with a 15-year-old and a 10-year-old child. During the digital interactions, Head allegedly detailed explicit acts, requested nude photographs, and expressed a preference for younger children. Authorities report that he attempted to arrange a meeting at a local park to encounter both minors at the same time.
After communicating his travel plans online, Head initially attempted to evade law enforcement, believing his online anonymity would prevent identification. However, tracking efforts by digital forensics units allowed detectives to establish his physical location. Head was located and arrested one day later by a coordinated team of local deputies.
Law Enforcement Advisory to Parents
Following the arrest, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to investigating online solicitation leads and warning offenders that internet-based crimes remain fully traceable.
The agency also urged parents and guardians to maintain active oversight of their children’s digital footprints, noting that predators frequently utilize lesser-known or hidden social media applications and alternative messaging accounts to initiate contact with minors.