A former Michigan and Florida police officer was caught up last month in a Michigan sting operation targeting human trafficking.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office said that Jeffrey David Morningstar, 60, has been arraigned on charges of child sexually abusive activity, using a computer to commit a crime, and accosting a child for immoral purposes, WJRT reported.
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said Morningstar was communicating with an undercover detective posing as a 15-year-old girl.
“Prior to him coming to the location he stopped at the Kroger on Bristol Road to review the conversation just to make sure that he heard right — that he read right — that she was actually 15,” Swanson said.
Morningstar served as a police officer in Millington and Clio in Michigan before moving to Longboat Key, Florida, where he served as an officer for 12 years and was promoted to sergeant, Swanson said.
“He was not an active police officer at the time of arrest. He did not have identification on him. He did not have a badge or a gun. So, we know that he was no longer employed,” Swanson said.
Morningstar was arraigned last week and released on a $44,000 personal recognizance bond. As a condition of his bond, he must stay away from children under 18.
