Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/185868
Sarasota News Leader October 4, 2013 Page 79 • Mario Corona, 24, of 1510 33rd Ave. E., • Ethan White, 22, of 1126 Lake Point Drive, Bradenton. Lakeland. • Jonathan Simonell, 26, of 2843 Bay St., • Stephen Ultsch, 21, of 2080 Pinehurst St., Sarasota. Sarasota. • Jason Davis, 20, of 3721 Stokes Drive, • Michael Maggio, 28, of 2129 Cork Oak St., Sarasota. Sarasota. • Brian Frost, 20, of 4912 Las Vegas Drive, • Stacey Griffith, 31, of 1790 Coconut Drive, Sarasota. Venice. • Sarah Welch, 36, of 3039 Woodpine Lane, • Marc Deprossimo, 36, of 1790 Coconut Sarasota. Drive, Venice. • Henry Sutchekzdenek, 25, of Englewood. • Tyler Williams, 22, of 3016 17th St., Sarasota. • Thomas Songer, 23, of 354 Patterson Ave., Osprey. • Hannah Treiber, 24, of Rotonda West. MAN CHARGED WITH UNLAWFUL SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH A MINOR The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has arrested a married 27-year-old man "who pretended to be a teen and traveled to Sarasota to have sex with a minor," the office has reported. Sarasota County detectives learned that Andrew Michael Brandt of 12100 Park Blvd., Apt. 1307, Seminole, created a Facebook account as "Mike Berns" and "communicated with young girls," a news release says. He met a Sarasota teen on Tagged.com and told her he was 17, the release continues. In March, he drove to Sarasota and began a sexual relationship with the girl, who was 15 at the time, the release says. Detectives obtained a warrant for Brandt's arrest, and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office took him into custody on Thursday, Sept. 26, the release adds. He is charged with three counts of Lewd or Lascivious Battery on a Victim Over 12 and Under 16, as well as three counts of Unlawful Sexual Activity with a Minor. Brandt was held in the Pinellas County Jail on $60,000 bond until he could be transferred to the Sarasota County Jail, the release continues. "Detectives in both counties are concerned there are additional victims who know Brandt as 'Mike Berns' or 'Andy Berns,'" the release points out. Anyone with information about him should contact the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Section at 861-4900. The release notes, "Parents: Please use this case as the impetus to speak with your children about meeting people online and explain to them that there is no way to know that person's true identity. Teach and continually reinforce the importance of being safe online. Ask them to show you the websites they visit and have them log in to their accounts at various social media platforms and instant messenger services. Point out safety concerns as they arise. Explain to them that you are not trying to invade their privacy. You are just trying to make sure they are safe."