(Marion County, FL) In the courtroom of Judge Peter M. Brigham, jurors found 56-year-old Dermon Kenneth Thomas guilty after deliberating yesterday. Thomas was convicted of Traveling to Meet a Minor, Soliciting a Child for Unlawful Sexual Conduct, and Using a Two-Way Communication Device to Commit a Felony.

Thomas was arrested in July of 2025, following a Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) investigation.

On July 21, 2025, members of the MCSO, along with the assistance of several other law enforcement agencies, conducted an online investigation targeting persons who use the internet to sexually exploit children.

During an undercover operation, MCSO Detective Lowder posed as a 14-year-old female child on an online account. Thomas messaged the decoy user and, after repeatedly being informed of the minor’s age, still attempted to solicit sex from the child.

Thomas would later request to meet with the child to engage in sexual activities. The next day, officials coordinated a time and location to meet Thomas, where he was promptly arrested. Initially, Thomas denied knowing the age of the decoy, but later admitted to knowing she was 14-years-old.

“With every covert operation like this, our law enforcement partners further protect our children from dangerous individuals like this defendant,” said Walter Forgie, Fifth Judicial Circuit Chief Assistant State Attorney. “One more predator is off the streets, helping to keep our community safer than it was before.”

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Janine Nixon. Thank you to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for conducting these covert operations to remove offenders from our streets before they can victimize the children in our community.

Published on 06/05/2026.