A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy has been arrested and suspended without pay after he allegedly tried to pay to have sex with someone he believed to be a minor, authorities said.
Marvin Vasquez, 24, was off-duty when St. Petersburg police arrested him Saturday. He faces charges of human trafficking: commercial sexual activity and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
“I am extremely disappointed that a person sworn to serve and protect is now facing charges related to such egregious behavior,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a news release. “I remain committed to eradicating this street act from our community. It will not be tolerated by anyone, and certainly not by a sworn law enforcement officer.”
Vasquez joined the sheriff’s office in January and has been suspended without pay.
This is a developing story. Stay with tampabay.com for updates.
