Naples Man Arrested for Trying to Meet a 15-Year-Old Girl — With a Past in Local Schools

A 62-year-old Naples man is facing serious felony charges after authorities say he attempted to meet who he believed was a 15-year-old girl — but instead walked into an undercover sting operation.

The case is drawing attention not just for the charges, but for one key detail:
👉 the suspect previously worked within the Collier County Public Schools system.

🧠 What Happened

In late March, Ricardo Mitchell drove from Naples to Miami expecting to meet a teenage girl he had been communicating with online.

According to investigators, those conversations lasted weeks and included explicit messages, requests, and offers of money in exchange for sexual activity.

But the person he believed he was talking to wasn’t a minor.

👉 It was an undercover investigator.

When Mitchell arrived at the meeting location, law enforcement conducted a felony vehicle stop and took him into custody without incident.

🚨 What Police Found

Authorities say Mitchell arrived prepared.

During the arrest, investigators recovered:

• more than $1,000 in cash

• erectile dysfunction medication

• the phone used for communication

The arrest report — spanning roughly 50 pages — details a pattern of online communication that escalated into a planned in-person meeting.

⚖️ Charges Filed

Mitchell is now facing multiple felony charges, including:

• Human trafficking of a minor for commercial sexual exploitation

• Using a computer to lure a child

• Traveling to meet a minor

• Attempting to engage in unlawful sexual activity

He is currently being held without bond at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

🏫 The School Connection

Mitchell previously worked at Gulf Coast High School in Collier County.

Officials confirmed his employment ended in 2018, and the district is cooperating with investigators.

While the alleged activity did not occur within the school system, the connection has raised concerns among local parents and the broader community.

📊 The Bigger Picture

This case is part of a much larger trend law enforcement agencies across Southwest Florida have been actively working to address.

The SWFL INTERCEPT Task Force, a multi-agency effort targeting online exploitation, has:

• launched over 1,000 investigations

• executed more than 150 search warrants

• made dozens of arrests

• identified or rescued dozens of victims

Officials say cases like this are not rare — they’re just increasingly being detected.

⚠️ What Parents Should Know

Authorities stress that online platforms remain one of the most common ways predators attempt to connect with minors.

Law enforcement recommends:

• having regular conversations with children about online interactions

• monitoring apps and platforms being used

• reporting suspicious behavior immediately

📞 Collier County Sheriff’s Office: 239-252-9300
🌐 CyberTipline.org

🧠 Bottom Line

A Naples man is now facing multiple felony charges after allegedly attempting to meet a minor in what turned out to be an undercover operation.

Beyond the individual case, it highlights a broader reality:
👉 these types of crimes are happening — and local agencies are actively working to stop them.

🧾 Source Note

This story is based on law enforcement reports, arrest records, and regional reporting.