Navy employee indicted for trying to entice young teen for sex

Jacksonville, FL — An active duty sailor at Naval Air Station Jacksonville has been federally indicted for trying to entice a minor for sex.

According to the indictment, authorities began investigating 24-year-old Erold Panopio in late August, after the guardian of a 15-year-old expressed concerns that the girl was talking to older men on her phone.  Detectives found exchanges on Shapchat between the 15-year-old and who they determined is Panopio, as well as a 15-year-old showing someone who appears to be Panopio engaging in sexual acts with the 15-year-old and another girl, according to the criminal complaint.

It was at that point that an undercover investigator began communicating with Panopio, posing as the 15-year-old over multiple days in November. Federal court documents detail explicit things Panopio allegedly texted to the person who he thought was the teen, but was actually the undercover investigator, including him talking about sexual acts and asking for nude photos.

The criminal complaint says Panopio went to a home in Clay County with the intention of meeting the same 15-year-old and another one of her younger friends for sex. When he arrived at the home, he was arrested.

Federal investigators say Panopio admitted to being at the home to meet the girls for sex, to knowing that they were underage, and to previously engaging in sex with the teen at his own apartment. The federal court docket shows he has pleaded not guilty.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office incident report lists Panopio’s business address as the US Navy. Naval Air Station Jacksonville has confirmed to WOKV that Panopio is a full-time, active duty Sailor who supports a reserve squadron. He has been in that position for about a year, according to a base spokesperson.

Panopio is being detained, pending his trial, which is tentatively set for next month.