Former Florala cop pleads no contest to child exploitation

Published 12:00 am Saturday, March 6, 2010

The former Florala police officer caught during a Dateline NBC “To Catch a Predator” sting has pleaded “no contest” to allegations he drove to Florida to meet an underage girl for sex.

Todd Monroe Spikes of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., was arrested December 2006 as a result of a four-day sexual predator sting operation coordinated by the watchdog group, Perverted Justice, and the Flagler Beach (Fla.) Police Department and filmed as part of Dateline NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” series.

Spikes had allegedly traveled to Flagler Beach to meet what he thought was a 13-year-old girl named “Lindsay,” who turned out to be a decoy. Upon his arrest, a barrage of items — including firearms, digital cameras, duct tape and tarps — were found inside his vehicle.

As a result, he was charged with attempted lewd or lascivious battery, lewd or lascivious exhibition and computer pornography and child exploitation.

Before his arrest, Spikes had been a probationary employee with the FPD since October 2006; however he was terminated shortly after the incident occurred.

Earlier this week, Spikes entered his plea and was sentenced to probation for 10 years on one count of lewd and lascivious exhibition by a person 18 years or older to a person less than 16 through a computer; five years probation on one count of using a computer to solicit a minor. Walton County, Fla., Circuit Judge Kevin Wells, who heard the case, said he would consider early termination of probation after five years.

Additionally, Spikes must register as a sex offender.