Summary: The former general counsel at Florida State University was caught in an undercover operation that arranged for him to meet a 13-year-old girl to give her “experience.”
Former Florida State University attorney was arrested Tuesday for soliciting a minor for sex. Former deputy general counsel Dayton Michael Cramer was taken in by federal authorities and charged with attempted enticement of a minor.
The 70-year-old resigned from his position with the university before being fired in handwritten note with no mention of his arrest. Cramer was making over $161,000 a year in the position with the university.
Cramer was released from custody after a preliminary federal hearing. He has been confined to house arrest and GPS monitoring as part of the conditions to his release. He is married with children. He denies the allegations and is preparing to go to trial, according to his attorney.
The Department of Homeland Security has been cracking down with online operations to catch adults targeting minors from Craigslist ads. Agents posted an ad on the website posing as a mother “trying to get her step-daughter some ‘experience’ from an older man.” Cramer responded to the ad, stating he was a 59-year-old man with full knowledge that the girl was 13-years-old in the ad. He also mentioned that he was married and a lawyer.
Cramer continued to communicate until Tuesday when he sent a photo of his genitalia. He asked questions about law enforcement and to pick a meeting location. When he arrived at the determined meeting spot, he was arrested. Cramer admitted to responding to the ad, sending a photo of his genitalia, and knowing the girl was underage during questioning.
FSU President John Thrasher stated of the incident, “These allegations against our former deputy general counsel are shocking and appalling. Upon learning of the arrest of Michael Cramer, the university immediately placed him on administrative leave. Later in the day, when we received the criminal complaint, we initiated steps toward terminating his employment. However, he resigned before being terminated. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement.”
Tallahassee attorney Tim Jansen will be representing Cramer.
How can Cramer be claiming he didn’t do it when he admitted to everything and was arrested at the meetup location? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
To learn more about lawyers caught having sex with minors, read these articles:
- Police Say Entertainment Lawyer Used Status to Seduce Teen Boy
- 9 Lawyers Associated with Child Pornography
- Lawyer Loses Law License After Child Porn Guilty Plea
Photo: wctv.tv
