Man sentenced in child sex sting

Clay County Sheriff's Office booking photo of Steven Chapman

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – An Orange Park man was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison and 10 years of sex offender probation after he pleaded guilty to traveling to child sex charges.

Steven Chapman pleaded guilty in June to traveling to meet a minor to do unlawful acts, lewd or lascivious exhibition over computer online service, and use of two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.

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In April, Chapman arranged a meeting online to have sex with a 14-year-old girl, prosecutors said. Those on the other end of the computer were investigators.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office as well as the FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement were behind Operation Don't Play in Clay. The sting took place over a five-day period.

As part of the operation, suspects went to a home on Fleming Island to have sex with a 14-year-old girl. When they arrived in the area, police were waiting for them.

A total of 20 people were arrested.