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Welcome to the Polk County Sheriff's Office News Room, where the Public Information Officers (PIO's) post all of the information that they release to the news media. PIO's act as liaisons between news media organizations and the Sheriff's Office. The PIO's routinely release timely and accurate information and Crime Stoppers bulletins, and respond to routine and "breaking news" media inquiries. News releases and Crime Stoppers information can be found on this page.
PCSO's full-time Public Information Officers are Carrie Horstman, Brian Bruchey, and Julianna Rivera. The Public Information Officers can be reached by sending an e-mail collectively at PIOs@polksheriff.org.
The recent news releases sent out by the PIOs can be found here, and archived releases (older than 2017) can be found here.
Jun 22, 2026
PCSO Detectives arrest Winter Haven man after he tried to arrange a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl
Media Contact: Juliana Rivera, PIO
Undercover detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Winter Haven man after he arranged for and then traveled to have a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl.
On Thursday, June 18, 2026, 47-year-old Matthew Rafferty answered a fake advertisement created by the PCSO Cyber Crimes Unit on a dating app. The ad posed as a father who was trying to prostitute his daughter.
Rafferty texted the phone number on the ad, acknowledged the girl’s age, and then requested to communicate any details over a phone call. On Friday, June 19, 2026, Rafferty called the undercover detective, introduced himself as “Mark” and then agreed to pay $50 to masturbate while the 14-year-old girl was in front of him.
At approximately 9:17 a.m., Rafferty arrived at the designated meeting place and was taken into custody.
Rafferty provided a full confession, admitting to the text messages and phone calls with the detective, knowing the girl’s age, and having the cash in his wallet that he planned to use to pay for the exchange. Rafferty recently moved to Florida from Pennsylvania and is a manager at Jazzy’s Diner in Winter Haven.
“This is the third predator in one week my detectives have arrested for traveling to Polk County to sexually batter a child, which further proves our theory that sexual predators are so focused on this deviant behavior, they ignore all the warning signs and the laws that are meant to protect children. This suspect is one more example of our commitment to keeping children safe.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Matthew Rafferty was taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center and booked in on the following charges: Human Trafficking for Commercial Sexual Activity-Victim under 18 (FL), Traveling to Meet Using a Computer to Solicit a Parent for Sex with a Minor (F2), Attempting Lewd/Lascivious Battery on Victim 12-16 (F2), Use a Computer to Solicit a Parent/Guardian (F3), and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device (F3).