By-Line: Joseph Bober, FCSO
Sheriff Staly Encourages Parents to Educate Children on Online Safety
Following an eight-month investigation by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit, a Palm Coast man has been arrested for sexually battering a minor in May 2024.
On June 1, 2024, a 14-year-old victim reported to her family that she had been sexually battered after running away from home a day earlier. After the family notified FCSO, the case was assigned to the Major Case Unit and assigned to lead Detective First Class Kathryn Gordon.
Detectives made contact with the victim, who stated that after running away from home she had contacted the suspect, Jordan Pittmon, 26, on Snapchat. The victim stated that Pittmon then picked her up at a gas station and brought her to his residence where they had sexual intercourse multiple times. Pittmon then dropped the victim off at a park the next day, where she was located by a family member.
The victim stated that she had first met Pittmon through Instagram in November 2023 and the two had exchanged messages for approximately a week. An adult family member of the victim later told detectives that she had discovered the messages and confronted Pittmon, informing him that the girl he was messaging was 14 years old. This did not deter Pittmon’s behavior, and he continued to communicate with the victim.
Detectives continued to investigate the case and with assistance from the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, detectives obtained search warrants for Pittmon’s social media accounts and his DNA.
On October 23, 2024, detectives made contact with Pittmon. Pittmon denied knowing or having sex with the victim. When shown a photograph of the victim, Pittmon stated that he did not recognize her. After speaking with Pittmon, detectives served Pittmon the DNA search warrant.
Based on the evidence obtained through both search warrants, DFC Gordon obtained an arrest warrant on February 11.
FCSO’s Real Time Crime Center determined Pittmon was in Daytona Beach, Florida. On the morning of February 13, Pittmon was apprehended by members of the Daytona Beach Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division. He was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail, where he was later released on a $20,000 bond.
Jordan Pittmon is arrested by a Daytona Beach Police Department officer.
“I want to commend this victim on speaking up to her family about this incident so that it could be reported to law enforcement. I am sure it was not an easy thing to do,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Our Major Case Unit detectives worked hard to build a case to put pervert behind bars for Valentine’s Day. Thank you to our partners at the Daytona Beach Police Department for their assistance.”
Sheriff Staly warns parents to educate their children on the dangers of the internet and social media, particularly on who they are communicating with online.
“I cannot think of any reason that a 26-year-old man should ever be messaging a 14-year-old girl on social media, and even when he was confronted by an adult who found out about the messages, he didn’t stop,” Sheriff Staly added. “This is a sobering reminder of the types of people that may be out there trying to stalk your kids online, which is why it is incredibly important to monitor your children’s social media and teach them how to use the internet safely.”
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office provides tips and resources for children and parents on online safety at flaglersheriff.com/youth-safety/online. Topics include social media, cyberbullying, and privacy protection.
