Former Univ. Of Tennessee Football Player Faces Child Sex Charges
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) - A former University of Tennessee football player was arrested on Florida's west coast after he went to meet what he thought was a 14-year old girl for sex.
Mackenzie "Mack" Crowder, 23, was arrested taken into custody Tuesday night near St. Petersburg and charged with five felony counts.
Crowder began communicating online someone he thought was a teenage girl on January 21st, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's office. Instead he was communicating with Pinellas County Sheriff's detective working as part of "Operation Wayfarer," which targets men who are using the Internet to find underage females for sex.
Crowder sent four inappropriate photos and solicited "the minor" to engage in sex acts with him, according to the sheriff's office. He was arrested after he arranged to meet the teen. Crowder reportedly told investigators he sent the photos and that he thought he was communicating with a teenage girl.
Crowder faces one count of certain use of prohibited computer services and four counts of transmitting harmful materials to a minor. He was released on $50,000 bond Wednesday. Jail records didn't list an attorney for Crowder.
Crowder, who is from Bristol, Tennessee, was part of Tennessee's team from 2011-15. He primarily played center and guard while making 15 career starts, including three this past season as a fifth-year senior and graduate student. He started 11 games at center in 2014.
He was named to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll in 2014 and 2015.
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