Nassau County Jury Finds Andrews Guilty of Soliciting a Child

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Nassau County jury found Tavarris Andrews guilty of Traveling to Meet a Minor to do Unlawful Acts; Soliciting a Child via a Computer; Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device; Transmission of Material Harmful to Minors; and Resisting an Officer Without Violence to His or Her Person. With the verdict, Andrews faces up to 21 years in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Steven Fahlgren will sentence Andrews at a later date.

Andrews, using a website, saw the staged profile —who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer — and initiated a conversation. The staged profile listed the woman as 34 years old, but when Andrews texted the undercover law enforcement officer, she disclosed she was 14 years old. Andrews continued texting and initiated graphic sexual conversations despite being told multiple times that the staged profile was 14 years old. Andrews agreed to meet the person whom he believed to be a child at a set location to engage in sexual intercourse. A short time later, Andrews arrived at the location and the undercover officer greeted him outside the front door. A takedown signal was given, and Andrews ran almost half a mile before the officers tased him and took him into custody. At the time of his arrest, Andrews was a captain in the United States Army.

The case was investigated by the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Tom Mangan and Melissa Coll.