EDITOR’S NOTE: Some of the information and evidence prosecutors refer to in this article is considered to be graphic and adult in nature. Additionally, a person is not guilty of a crime simply because there is evidence against that person nor because there has been an indictment. The jury in this case will determine guilt and, as of this time, Richard Hoyt Crawford Jr. is presumed innocent of the charges he is facing.
By Jerry Jordan, Editor
With the criminal trial of former NASCAR Truck Series driver Richard “Rick” Hoyt Crawford Jr. scheduled to begin Tuesday in Orlando Federal Court, prosecutors are tasked with proving he, “knowingly intended to commit the crime of persuading, inducing, or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.”
Crawford was arrested February 28 after extended electronic communications to meet with a supposed father and his notional 12-year-old daughter being offered for sexual favors in exchange for money. The supposed father turned out to be an undercover sheriff’s deputy assigned for the past 13 years to an FBI task force combatting violent crimes against children.
The complaint filed against Crawford states that on February 10, 2018, Crawford replied to an online Craigslist ad that read “taboo is, looking for taboo minded ppl, who aren’t afraid of the dark, are looking for that dark taboo experience, the hmu (hit me up).”
Crawford replied, “Let’s do it. Clean fit 6 ft 180 BWC.” According to the government, BWC refers to the genitals.
New information from court records also shows he sent a photograph of his erect penis to the undercover agent in his first reply to the Craigslist ad. Crawford’s attorney sought the photograph excluded as evidence because he argued it could be deemed prejudicial to his client’s ability to get a fair trial. The attorney stated in court documents that Crawford didn’t know what “taboo” meant and didn’t know he would be meeting for sex with a 12-year-old girl.
CLICK FOR PDF: Motion to Exclude Penis Pic-Crawford
Additionally, new evidentiary photographs submitted by prosecutors show the inside of Crawford’s truck at the time of his arrest, highlighting several items law enforcement say could have been used during sexual relations with the notional underage girl.
The penis photo has been presented as evidence but was done so under seal. According to Crawford’s attorney, “This case is not about Mr. Crawford sending pictures of his genitals via the internet and can only be used by the prosecution to prove that Mr. Crawford had the propensity to commit the offenses charged in the indictment … The evidence is going to be used by the prosecution to prove bad character and, therefore, Mr. Crawford must be guilty of attempting to have sex with a minor.”
Although Crawford’s attorney says his client did not know the age of the girl at the time he first responded to the ad on Feb. 10 the prosecution’s response shows he learned of the notional girl’s age after exchanging additional messages with the undercover agent and continued to pursue sexual contact with her. Prosecutors also contend in their response, “The image is an integral part of the story in this case because it makes abundantly clear that the defendant immediately understood the advertisement involved ‘taboo’ sex. ‘Taboo’ sex involves a forbidden or unacceptable practice on grounds of morality or taste, which in this case was sex with a minor.”
Prosecutors continue their arguments and include a transcript of the messages between the undercover agent and Crawford, which they claim proves he was well-aware of the notional girl’s age and that he intended to have sex with her.
- “TFA (Task force agent) McElyea, while acting as the UC persona of the father of a 12-year-old girl, replied, ‘FYI 50yo taboo dad[,] w 12yo daughter[,] shes into guys…im not[,] shes also accepts donations[,] if this isn’t you then to no need to reply[,] NO RP here.’
- Crawford responded, ‘Lets do it. Let me know where.’
- TFA McElyea replied, ‘ok.’
- Crawford responded, ‘Ok. Say where How much you thinking.’
- The UC (undercover) persona replied, ‘the $$$ is dependent on what you want to do or have done.’
- Crawford responded, ‘Ok. Say where. Need to do now if she is ready.’
- The UC (undercover) persona replied, ‘we’re in the lake mary/ sanford area, like i said the $$$ is dependent on what you want to do or have done.’
- Crawford responded, ‘Ok. I want it all. Address.’
- The UC (undercover) persona then said, ‘no ruff stuff.’
- Crawford replied, ‘Ok. No problem. What’s she like. In dark right.’
- Crawford then immediately followed-up with the following messages: ‘You interested. I’m ready,’ ‘Hello. I can be on my way,’ and ‘Let me know. Thanks.’”
Messages between the two continued and on Feb. 19 at 2:12 p.m., the undercover agent outlined rules Crawford had to follow if he was to have sex with the girl. The first rule, according to the message exchange filed in court documents, was that Crawford would have to use a condom because:
- “I don’t need to explain why my 12yo daughter is prego,” the undercover agent wrote. “NO anal…NO ruff stuff…and I get to watch.”
- At 2:14 p.m. the undercover agent wrote another message to Crawford indicating that if money was a problem the two could “barter” for the girl’s services.
- Crawford replied at 2:32 p.m. on Feb. 19 “$$$. Is no problem. I’m ok with rules. Say when.” Crawford then followed up with a request seeking a photograph of the girl.
According to court records, the undercover agent sent a photo of another law enforcement officer, who was 12- to 13 years old at the time it was taken.
Over the next week, the pair came to an agreement on a price, which was between “$50 to $75 for sexual activity with my notional 12-year-old daughter,” the undercover agent wrote in his complaint seeking a criminal indictment against Crawford. On the day Crawford was arrested, he and the undercover agent exchanged more message between each other and set-up the scenario of how Crawford wanted the girl to be ready for him when he arrived.
- On February 28, 2018, Crawford sent a message, “Good morning. We all good.”
- I replied, “yes but around 1pm would be better, Tracey has lunch around 12 tpday (sp?) so I’m picking her up from school so is 1pm ok?”
- Crawford responded, “Yes. She know about this/ She ready.”
- I replied, “she knows I have a friend who might be meeting us today for play so shes (sp?) good.”
- Crawford responded, “Cool. Send address. Thanks.”
- I replied, “ok we meet at the wendys (sp?) parking lot on lake mary blvd at I-4, after we meet and we’re cool with each other then you follow us to our place or you can play in our van … plenty of room.”
- “I told Crawford that my notional 12 year old daughter and I would be in a grey Dodge van.”
- Crawford said he would be driving a Z71 gold Chevy truck.
- I asked, “ok cool see you at 1pm, did you want her dressed in the van or what?”
- Crawford responded, “No, if she is comfortable. Have her naked or something easy access
The undercover agent also stated that Crawford requested a second “sexy picture” of the underage girl he was supposed to be meeting, so he provided another photo of the same law enforcement officer, who was about 12 years old at the time it was taken.
After the negotiations, Crawford drove to the parking lot of a Wendy’s restaurant to meet what he believed was a 12-year-old girl waiting to have sex with him. When he arrived, according to prosecutors, Crawford backed truck into a space on the passenger’s side of the undercover agent’s van.
“We both rolled our windows down. I asked if he was Mike (the alias Crawford used), he acknowledged, yes,” the undercover agent wrote in his criminal complaint. “I then said, ‘she’s naked in the back do want to get out and see her?’ Crawford again said yes. Crawford was apprehended by assisting agents as he tried to exit his vehicle.
After being read his Miranda warning, Crawford admitted to answering the taboo ad using his iPhone 6 to do so and that he wasn’t there to meet anyone underage or illegal, the criminal complaint states.
CLICK FOR PDF: Gov Response Vehicle Evidence-Crawford
A search of Crawford’s truck revealed several adult-oriented DVDs, a sex toy, two over the counter sexual performance enhancement pills and a Walgreens receipt referencing “the purchase of an emergency contraceptive pill.”
CLICK FOR PDF: Jury Instructions-Crawford
In order for prosecutors to successfully prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Crawford is guilty of the charges filed against him, court records state they must show, “First: That the Defendant (Crawford) knowingly intended to commit the crime of persuading, inducing, or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, as charged; and Second: The Defendant’s intent was strongly corroborated by his taking a substantial step toward committing the crime.
“The Defendant can be found guilty of this crime only if all of the following facts are proved beyond a reasonable doubt: 1. the Defendant knowingly intended to persuade, induce, or entice an individual to engage in sexual activity, as charged; 2. the Defendant used the Internet or a cellular telephone to do so; 3. at the time, the Defendant believed that the individual was less than 18 years old; 4. if the sexual activity had occurred, one or more of the individual(s) engaging in sexual activity could have been charged with a criminal offense under the law of Florida. 5. the Defendant took a substantial step towards committing the offense.”
Under federal law, prosecutors do not have to show that notional 12-year-old girl was underage, only that Crawford believed the girl was underage at the time he was intending to meet her for sex. Crawford contended in his post-arrest interview that he didn’t know the girl was underage, despite his message with the undercover agent, because he had not actually seen her. He repeatedly told arresting officers that had he realized the girl was underage when he went to the back of the van, he would have left.
CLICK FOR PDF: Post Arrest Interview-Crawford
“I would probably just left and left the sick bastard to go on his own,” Crawford said, when asked if he would have called the police. “There is some sick people around here. But is not my business.”