A 61-year-old Titusville man was among 13 individuals arrested in a multi-agency internet crimes sting after he allegedly solicited sex from a person he believed was a 13-year-old child.

William Wheelis was located and arrested at a Titusville nursing home following an investigation by the Port Orange Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit. Wheelis faces charges of distributing child sexual abuse material, according to a department news release.

The operation, which involved the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and several local law enforcement agencies, targeted individuals using digital platforms to exploit minors. Authorities utilized the Volusia Regional SWAT Team to execute the arrests across the region.

The sting also snared Richard Lee, 44, of Jacksonville, who was apprehended while holding an orange he reportedly brought to a meeting with a child. Video from the scene shows officers ordering Lee to drop the fruit before taking him into custody. Lee remains held at the Volusia County Branch Jail on $78,000 bail on charges including luring a child and methamphetamine distribution.

Other arrests highlighted the broad geographic and demographic reach of the operation:

• Kino Mireles, 33, of Lititz, Pennsylvania, was arrested Feb. 14 after being met by officers wielding rifles. He was released on $45,500 bail.
• Jarret Helm, 36, of Daytona Beach, was taken into custody after claiming he had been at a speedway all day. Helm informed officers during the arrest that he is autistic and unarmed.
• David Poore, 83, of Melbourne, was the oldest individual identified in the sweep.

“What’s wrong?” Helm can be heard asking in body camera footage as officers removed him from his vehicle.

The remaining defendants, ranging in age from 20 to 68, face various felony charges related to the unlawful use of a two-way communication device and the solicitation of minors. These individuals include residents from Port Orange, Deltona, Orlando, and Edgewater.

Local officials emphasized that the collaboration between the ICAC Unit and federal partners remains a priority to intercept online predators before they can cause physical harm to members of the community.