Last Updated: 6:58 p.m.
Michael Stavris, an officer with the Bunnell Police Department, was jailed Tuesday evening on two charges of computer porn and a charge of criminal use of someone else’s personal information following a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into several instances where Stavris is accused of soliciting naked images from underage boys.
Stavris was being held on $125,000 bond, but had bonded out by morning. Based on a certified letter the city sent him. he has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the investigation. Stavris’s base pay was $35,651.
According to the FDLE investigation, Stavris created a fictitious profile in 2013, using a local girl’s information, and passing himself off as a high school student. Stavris then communicated with the girl’s classmate through the Facebook profile on several occasions to request images. See the full arrest report below.
“FDLE Agents began the investigation in December 2013 after receiving a complaint regarding Stavris,” the FDLE said in a release issued this morning. “The investigation shows Stavris created a fraudulent Facebook account posing as a teenage girl. Using this fraudulent account, he solicited teenage boys. After the conversations turned sexual, Stavris requested sexual photos from the victims.”
In one instance, on April 27, 2013, the investigation states, Stavris’s fictitious Facebook persona became friends with a boy at Flagler Palm Coast High School and engaged in a chat, sending the picture of what appeared to be adult breasts.
“Let me see the face and the tits,” the boy replied.
“When we hang out,” Stavris’s Facebook persona said. The two exchanged location information. The boy asked to come over. Stavris’s Facebook profile said “she” was at the beach, then asked: “Show me ur dik.” “Later when you show me your stuff,” the boy, who was 15 at the time, replied.
The investigator’s affidavit recounts another instance, on March 26, 2013, when Stavris’s “Facebook profile,” as it is referred to in the affidavit, became friends with another boy at FPC, and in June had a chat prompted by Stavris’s profile asking the boy if he’d ever received oral sex. When the boy replies that he had, Stavris’s profile tells him, “I’m bi,” and asks the boy for an image of himself receiving oral sex.
“idk if i can get a girl that would let me take a pic doin that to me lol but your bi?” the boy asked.
“Ya and I know u got pics in your phone of other giels [sic.]”
The boy tells him he’s deleted all the images. The investigator, who met with the parents of every child involved in the alleged exchanges, notes that the boy is 14.
In a similar instance with another user, the user rebuffs the requests for images, saying, “That’s weird.”
Stavris admitted to creating the fake profile last Nov. 28, according to the investigator’s affidavit. The FDLE obtained a search warrant to look through the account Stavris had created, and notes another instance, in late 2012, of the Facebook profile exchanging messages with yet another Facebook user, using the same pattern: Stavris’s Facebook account asking the other user to send a picture of his penis. The picture of a black male’s post-pubescent, erect penis was sent. Once received, Stavris’s Facebook profile asked: “Take a pic of u jerking it.”
No other picture was sent.
The investigator spoke with the Facebook user whose identity was allegedly stolen. She told the investigator that she had never authorized any such use of her account.
After this article appeared, Shonna Foster, who said she was the mother of the girl whose identity was allegedly stolen, contacted FlaglerLive and asked that her daughter’s name, used in the fake Facebook account–Dallas Brown–be published. ” I ask that you do this to help clear her name since she has suffered for a long time having people not believe they were talking to someone else,” Foster said.
Stavris was charged under the Computer Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act, which prohibits any act to “Seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, or attempt to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, a child or another person believed by the person to be a child.”
Larry Williams, the Bunnell city manager, was reviewing Stavris’s record when reached for comment early this afternoon. “We have suspended him without pay,” he said. “I know everybody else does it with pay. We’ve checked with legal counsel and our legal counsel felt that was within our legal purview to do that, based on the type of charges.”
Stavris started as a cop with Bunnell on Feb. 23, 2011, and is currently a corporal according to city records. Asked for comment about the arrest, Williams said: “Not right now because it’s still an ongoing investigation.” But he addressed the issue of staffing. “We’ll fill the gaps with who we now have. If we do fall short any place I’ve got full confidence that the sheriff’s office will augment what we’re doing.”
Stavris had worked for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for two years until January 2008, worked almost two years in the Edgewater Police Department, then less than a year with Duval County school police before starting in Bunnell. His personnel record shows no blemishes in his three years with the Bunnell Police Department.
His February 2013 evaluation, while not outstanding, showed him to be consistently above standards, rarely calling in sick, showing initiative, consistently completing quality work and doing so without having to be prompted. That was an improvement from the previous year’s evaluation, when he was told that he needed to be “more consistent in taking the initiative.” The 2012 evaluation, which showed him merely to be meeting expectations, also found that he needed to “apply more detail when writing reports” and “could improve in his empathy towards the public,” but otherwise found that he did a good job overall in his public interactions, thought things through when making decisions and “consistently steps up when coverage is needed.” He was asked to improve his consistency–something on which he followed through, as attested by his 2013 evaluation.
“This is my daughter’s fiancée,” Sherri Blevins told FlaglerLive in a recorded phone message earlier, “this article is totally false. The charges that were brought up have to do with an old girlfriend who got in trouble with something that she was doing.”
Blevins said the report said “nothing about child pornography and nothing about porn with young boys.” The investigative report below, however, specifies that Stavris admitted to creating the fraudulent Facebook account and himself gave investigators the login and password information. The investigation details the instances of solicitation and requests for sexual images from underage children.
FDLE is asking that if anyone has additional information about Stavris, please contact the Jacksonville Regional Operations Center at (904) 360-7111.
Michael Stavris FDLE Investigation Into Computer Porn Allegations
The Truth says
This is just disgusting. Throw this low life in jail for a long time. There’s no excuse for this.
are you for real says
Sick!!! what a stain you are to the brotherhood. They are here to protect and serve the community and all he did was help himself. I hope you Rot in jail. You stinking lunatic!
fl girl says
sick sick guy, he need to have his you know what cut off.and hung around his neck,just a sick man.
bunnell boy says
Great job BPD the hits just keep coming!
Genie says
This man is a predator of the worst kind. Bail was not high enough. This cop knows what’s going to happen to him in prison. He is likely to flee.
"I Don't Want To Be Like Mike" says
Wow, sad sick stuff. If accurate disappointed and disgusted.
Doesn't matter says
He’s been doing this for years. We tried getting the police involved before but they wouldnt help. It’s a shame that six years later he is finally busted for something we tried to prevent
Mr. Humanity says
Ok where are all the comments? We have a caucasian male here who was preying on teenage kids, specifically teenage boys, but no one is outraged? Not to mention that he is/was a cop. I wonder if he was a minority, what some of the comments might be?
It seems like minorities receive more than their fair share of ridicule and degrading, but when it comes to a caucasian individual, the remarks are tempered and measured. I think the outrage should be equally shared not just based upon an individual’s race.
Good job again getting these types of individuals out of our community and away from our kids. Everyone needs to work together to make sure Palm Coast survives and doesn’t descend any further into chaos and mayhem. Two thumbs up for the law enforcement agencies involved in nabbing this offender.
angry parent says
This is an outrage. Here most parents try to tell our children that if they really truly need anything, the police will always be there for them. If we can not trust our men and women in uniform to be there for our children, then who do we trust? This “man” if we can call him that as already bonded out and is now a greater threat to our children. How can a person abuse their power this way and get away with it? I know that this is not how most police officers are, but still, this SCUM took advantage of our children in their most impressionable stage of life.
As a parent, I worry about my children and their social networking sites. Its reasons like this, I am glad that I hold the password to my children’s social networking sites. It’s not to spy on them, its to make sure that they are safe and people are not taking advantage of them. Call me over protective if you want, but, my children’s safety comes first.
Observer says
The target everyone should be aiming at is the City of Bunnell. This is just another example of their loose hiring practices at the Bunnell Police Department. This guy probably couldn’t get hired any where else.
How many scumbags have to get fired from this Police Department before the elected officials and the State of Florida, for that matter, realize you can run a police department by the seat of your pants and expect it to be successful.
Shut that stink hole down once and for all. They hire rejects from other places and we bear the brunt if their incompetence. Let the Sheriff take over NOW!
Someone says
If you look at the arrest record this dude is out of jail already wow
Disgusted says
I know this guy and have always thought he was strange and not very bright. Also, before he was a cop he worked at extended day in Flagler schools. So who knows if anything happened back then too. He was around kids EVERY DAY.
cybersecurity says
I just recently interviewed with bunnell police department, and I have a degree related to the prevention of these sort of crimes. Needless to say I didn’t get the job……
Reaganomicon says
Police do not protect and serve, re DeShaney v. Winnebago County, Castle Rock v. Gonzales, etc.
Likewise, the fact that he “helped himself” isn’t anything new either, and seems to be par for the course, e.g. whatever happened regarding that whole “Manfre takes a work car on a personal trip and wrecks it” thing, the Bunnell police couple that were selling coke and getting kickbacks from a towing company, the flagler beach police officer that may have shot his wife but was allowed to pull full pay while on leave and then retired and left the state.
As you said, they are a brotherhood, meaning that they protect their own. Bad behavior is generally overlooked until it attracts the attention of higher powers or it affects the wrong person, and when it’s called to light more often than not the consequences are laughable, like giving a flagler beach cop that beat a handicapped person community service and probation, or giving a former flagler beach cop that unrepentantly shot someone twice in the chest two years in jail, etc.
If you’re charged with upholding the law, you should be under far more scrutiny than what the police are currently under, and the consequences for knowingly gaming the system or breaking the law should be the maximum because you, of all people, know better. Instead, it’s kids gloves and whining about how hard the job is and how dangerous the job is as an excuse to literally slap people on the wrist. The biggest opponents against cameras on police officers are police officers, big surprise there.
Hood Rat says
Just read the report, now I know why he loved working the projects so much. I hope interviews are conducted of the youngsters in Bunnell PD’s jurisdiction to make sure none were tampered with.
Umm says
As usual, this has nothing to do with race. The comments have to be approved by FlaglerLive before they are posted. I don’t understand why people like yourself always have to turn things into a race issue? Im white and outraged by this. This man used to work in the Extended Day program at Indian Trails Middle School many years ago. Its a shame that anyone, white, black, purple, or green would do this to a child. It’s sick and hopefully he gets what he deserves.
bunnell boy says
I noticed on the fenders of their patrol cars in letters “HELPING TO BUILD YOUR FUTURE. I guess they have a different interpretation of what that means!
a little info says
@ Observer: just a few facts. The person who is the subject of this alleged crime actually grew up in Flagler County since the early 90s. He has worked as a Florida State Trooper, Edge water Police officer, Jacksonville Police Officer and finally Bunnell and is only 30 years-old those career moves were his choice. He was as much a part of this community as anyone else who claims it.
Genie says
@ Cyber: Wait until they have paid a few million in lawsuits and then you’ll get the job.
Someone Else says
The “coach” that was arrested last year, and sentenced just recently, for a similar crime only got under 3 years with time off for time served. I highly doubt one of their own will get more than that.
wake up says
YOU CAN’T TRUST ANYONE!!! NOT THE CHURCH…NOT THE POLICE!! ALWAYS HAVE YOUR GUARD UP AT ALL TIMES!!
Charles Gardner says
To a racist everything is about race.
Charles Gardner says
Probably an opening soon.
Observer says
Actually I think it says “Professional Law Enforcement” on their fenders…. Delusional statement made by an illusional City.
Observer says
@little info… Really it should be wrong info….. The only fact that you have correct is he worked in Edgewater
He worked for the Jacksonville school district….not the Sherrie’s office. He was never a state trooper, he worked for a short time for dept of agriculture. He left those positions before they had the chance to fire him.
As you’ll note he kept jumping from job to job…. Career moves yea right…
Truth says
This guy was sick I’m glad he’s not wearing a badge or gun anymore. I read the previous comments about it was reported years ago? Why was he hired he must be a friend of someone or a relative?
This was another great hire by Bunnell under the Armondo rein of Terror.
What a difference a manager makes running the city not a crooked cop.
Larry Williams, the Bunnell city manager, was reviewing Stavris’s record when reached for comment early this afternoon. “We have suspended him without pay,” he said. “I know everybody else does it with pay. We’ve checked with legal counsel and our legal counsel felt that was within our legal purview to do that, based on the type of charges.”
Martinez would have suspended his buddy with pay and told the council he had to. Remember the Murray’s .
Nikia says
Not sure how the church got brought into this but yes, predators will find ways to prey. Any type of authoritative position where children are involved are easy targets for them so the rest of us must be diligent in looking for the signs and keeping our children safe. I don’t believe these individuals can be cured. Parents teach your children that the internet is now a way for strangers to enter the home. That doesn’t mean that the church law enforcement or the internet are inherently evil.
ryan says
Another damn shame. Why did he get bond for this and who paid it? Why no mugshot? Not very responsible to not put up a mugshot. It would be only fair to do so. I also think that unlike the coach mentioned in the comments that inappropriately did things to athletes, Flagler Live needs to be updating the public along the way and let us actually know about the outcome of everything. It seems we never get to know what happened when people hurt kids or try to and it is the reason that people get off easy. Yes, it is partially media’s fault when there are such light convictions when there is strong evidence and is very unfair to the public.
Lt Dan says
Russia see’s our weakness and is going to pounce on us like a hunger tiger. America has become very WEAK !!!!
sue says
He needs to be FIRED. He is NOT above the Law.
Bunnell Citizen says
Observer, first the blame WOULD NOT go to the City of Bunnell, they DO NOT hire for the Bunnell Police Department. The blame for hiring this scum would go to the GREAT MARTINEZ, and Chief Jones. This man was hired 4 years ago. The Police Chief and the City Manger are the ones that hire.
The sad thing is, the man has a criminal history. So, why was he hired? Did they actually do a back ground check on him?
It’s sad! He should be locked up for the rest of his life.
Anonymous says
@ Someone Else
As a local law enforcement officer, I believe I speak for all of us when I say that this man is not “one of us.” He is one of the few that make all of us look bad.
Genie says
@ Observer: We have some sick puppies in this town. It’s very discouraging to one of them in a position of trust.
cybersecurity says
I don’t know, I also don’t think I got the job because I did not meet the Bunnell Police Department weight limit…… Did you read in the affidavit that this guy weighed 400lbs…… Must be all the pizza these officers eat at “Just Cheeses”. But seriously the average weight in that department is 300lbs for sure.
Mellissa says
Its completely sickening to know that an officer in my town has done this. What’s even more sickening and scary is that ive always been so proud and happy at the job bunnell pd has done in the morning at the elementary school and in the afternoon while the kids are arriving and leaving school. Theyve been so good to keep an eye out on all of us and a story like this makes me think its us who need to keep an eye out on them.
Initialjoe says
I have nothing but praise for any of our police departments in this area. I have been treated with nothing but respect with my dealings. I think that every profession has bad seeds but it hurts even moreso when a bad seed comes from a position of trust. I’m glad that kids weren’t hurt in this…but it seems like he was working up to something bad.
Stew says
Hey “anonymous”, how can yo say he’s not one of you? Lately it seems this is all we’re reading about..how crooked and shady you cops are! I’ll be more than glad to go into detail if you’d like… It’s a shame when the people that are paid to serve and protect are looked at as the “bad guys”
Moe Syzlak says
I cant believe his Fiancees mother is sticking up for him. She desearves a mother of the year award for letting her daughter hang around with a guy like that. Im sure a guy like that cant possibly find a girl his own age. Im sure he’s lured some young 18 year old into believing his BS. I mean her mommy is still fighting her battles. I hope this guy rots in prison. The boys in prison will love a overly plump pedophile ex cop. I’m glad to see that this didnt get swept under the rug. These guys need to held to a higher standard then everybody else. Bunnell and Flagler are a safer place with this monster out of uniform.
Anonymous says
Now why doesn’t this surprise me????
schwarz says
I Don,t know when Bunnell PD is going to realize that they are worthless and should shut down and let the Flagler county sheriff handle the district, maybe now the commission will finally get it.
FlaglerLive says
Much as we disagree with the exemption, because it’s little more than preferential double-standard, the mug shots of law enforcement officers, firefighters, judges and a few other select categories are exempt disclosure: jails never post them.
just the facts says
Moe you could not have said it better. I think she may be all of 19. If i was her mom i would keep my mouth shut. I think she is hot under the collar mainly because she will probably have to go to prision to attend the wedding of her daughter!
ryan says
I did not know that. I learn something new every day. I would like to see more follow up of convictions and during the trial.
FloridaGirl says
For sure it is not the first Bunnell Cop to go to jail! Wont be the last cop to be jailed either. He was suppose to be a vehicle of truth. His truths clearly speak for themselves. A strike against him, not his brotherhood.
anonymous says
@stew
You are right. All you read about is the negative things done by thugs in cops uniforms. The shameful fact is that a hundred good deeds are done by good law enforcement officers every day. But you will never read about those things because they don’t attract attention and sell papers. Men like this are a minority in law enforcement and those of us that believe in our profession and what it stands for would not even try to defend this man. Just keep in mind that more every horrible story you read, there are at least a hundred positive stories that will never see print. And even the positive stories that see print are quickly overlooked and don’t receive an ounce of public attention. This man does not represent the majority of law enforcement in America. Most of us still take pride in what it means to serve and what the badge represents.
George says
Yeah he went to high school here and has been arrested for Soliciting Nude pics of Teenage Boys………Great to know he’s a part of the community….really.
George says
Bond paid for by his teenage girlfriend, his family and the girlfriends family…..yes teenage but legal.
George says
Sir, While i appreciate my local law enforcement officers that are good cops, you have to Admit that the number of bad cops in this county has increased to an abundance. it’s no longer a majority of good or bad but simply a level of corruption that varies day to day and situation to situation
George says
Your exactly right Moe, he has done that exact thing lured a young girl hahahahahha Niave as hell apparently too
Sickening says
I find this very interesting . Every time I need help from BPD and he was on duty I never felt like anything would be done. his reports we half ass-ed at best if he wrote one. Did nothing he said he would do. Never responded when needed or took a lot of time and seldom returned calls as he said he would or called and had a careless attitude Especially concerning serious problems.Some that involved crime right under his nose with witnesses after responding.. This was very frustrating especially when you went to get records and there where none. Not even footnotes.When going to the higher ups in department he always had some lame stupid excuse to get out of it, Too Busy looking for little boys i guess. I cant just cant understand how this could go on so long and must say I was not a bit surprised to hear this. TOO BAD I HOPE HE REALLY GETS IT HEAVY FOR THIS. Just disgusting especially from a law enforcement officer disgracing the entire place by his behavior. when others good officers were working harder for things he ignored.