Nationwide — James Ford, a former deputy from Charlotte County, Florida, is accused of sending explicit messages to a 10-year-old girl on TikTok. He faces federal charges for asking the child for nude photos and sharing sexual images of himself.
Ford, who used to work for the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, allegedly contacted the girl online while she lived in Texas. Investigators said he asked for nude pictures and sent photos of himself in return.
According to WLBT, Texas authorities traced one of the images the girl received back to Ford. When questioned after his arrest, Ford reportedly admitted to asking for explicit pictures and videos of the child.
Ford was first arrested in late October by local police after the Texas agency alerted them to the messages. He was later re-arrested by federal agents on charges of harmful communication with a minor.
He now faces federal charges of coercion and transferring obscene material to a minor. Ford is scheduled to appear in federal court next month, with his trial set for February 2026.
Authorities continue to investigate to ensure the child’s safety and prevent further incidents.