Father sentenced in online child sex sting

Jon Stoune sentenced to more than 17 years in prison

St. Johns County Sheriff's Office booking photo of Jon Stoune

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A 45-year-old father in St. Johns County was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for attempting to meet a child for sex, the U.S. State Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.

Jon Christopher Stoune was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervision and register as a sex offender upon release. 

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Stoune was found guilty by a federal jury in March 2016.

The U.S. State Attorney's Office said Stoune was an I.T. Specialist.

According to evidence presented at trial, Stoune engaged in a series of online conversations in March and April 2015 with a person believed to be a 14-year-old child.

The "child" was actually a detective with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.

During the course of those conversations, Stoune discussed in detail his desire to have sex with and obtain pornographic pictures of the child.

Stoune drove to St. Augustine Beach in April 2015 to meet the "child" for sex and was arrested.

Officers recovered a digital camera, several sex toys and condoms from his pocket.

A leather whip, wooden paddle, billy club, nylon restraints and other devices designed for use in sadomasochistic activity were found in Stoune's vehicle.

People in Stoune's neighborhood, who said he lived with a wife and children, were stunned to hear what happened.

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry, I'm in shock.  I'm really in shock. Makes me a little nervous. My house and my yard are probably attached to that area," Mandy Barrow, a local neighbor said. 

The case was investigated by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, Volusia County Sheriff's Office, St. Augustine Beach Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation.