An anti-Trump activist who served as the chief strategist for Evan McMullin's 2016 presidential campaign has been busted for allegedly soliciting sex from an underage boy in Florida.
Joel Searby, 43, was arrested last week for lewd and lascivious behavior, obscene communication to lure a minor, and obscene communication to travel to meet and lure a minor.
Searby lives in Archer with his wife and children. Joel Searby was the chief strategist for Evan McMullin's 2016 presidential campaign.
He was just arrested in Florida for allegedly soliciting sex from a teen boy.
This is the second major figure from the Lincoln Project circle to be accused of soliciting sex from underage men. pic.twitter.com/QAgYoe98cJ
— America 2100 (@America_2100) June 22, 2024
Gainesville, Florida's Main St. Daily News reports:According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, an investigation started Wednesday regarding a 15-year-old boy who received multiple Snapchat messages from the suspect that were sexual in nature and solicited the victim for photos and sexual acts. The victim received a Snapchat request showing that the suspect was Searby, the report said.
The report detailed a conversation between the suspect and the victim that contained sexually explicit language as Searby detailed his sexual encounters with an older man during his teenage years.
“Would you ever do something like that?” Searby asked the teen.
Searby, who sent multiple photos of himself to the victim, also set up a time to meet with the victim on Thursday morning at Searby’s guest house and, according to the report, told the victim “that he could send a text asking to come to move limbs or another job around the house so that he could have an excuse with his parents to come over.”
Law enforcement took over the boy's Snapchat account on Thursday. While they were in possession of the phone, Searby sent a message saying, "Hey bud hope all is well! Are you able to come help me this morning by chance/ Have some things to move and a couple big limbs and need a hand. Let me know. Thanks! Would probably take an hour or a little more."
He continued messaging the boy and luring him to meet up, but the police showed up instead and placed him under arrest.
Searby was denied bond at a hearing on Tuesday.
“This investigation will continue to be active until detectives have identified everyone that may have been victimized,” the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
The sheriff's office also asked anyone who may have been contacted or victimized by Searby to contact the special crimes unit at 352-955-1818.
