Sarasota Co. firefighter accused of sexting with minor

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A Sarasota County firefighter is accused of soliciting naked photos of a female he knew to be under 18-years-old.

A probable cause affidavit details the explicit communication between the 17-year-old victim and 43-year-old Sarasota firefighter Aaron Key. 

The affidavit, written by Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Detective Casey King, says Key first met the victim at the Applebee's restaurant on University Parkway on December 27, 2015.

Key was said to have taken the victim's iPhone and saved his number into the contacts - telling the victim to "call him sometime to hang out." King wrote in the affidavit, the victim later texted and called Key to see if he was okay because he seemed to be intoxicated at the restaurant. 

In a message sent from Key to the victim on Dec. 29, Key asked the victim how old she was. The affidavit shows the victim replied, "you're so sexy... I'm so young... 17."

The affidavit says Key later sent a message saying, "please tell me you are 18."

During another exchange, according to the affidavit, Key said, "you drive me crazy! I know you're too young! you are the most BEAUTIFUL woman I have ever seen!"

The victim replied, "like im (sic) not going to be illegal forever."

The two continued to communicated for several weeks, exchanging sexually explicit text messages. Key asked the victim for specific photos of her body, many of which she provided, the affidavit says. 

Another message sent from Key, the affidavit shows, Key claimed to be communicating with the victim while working at a fire station. 

The two continued to communicate until January 16, 2016. 

Meanwhile, Key's neighbor, Kathy Tams said she was shocked. 

"It's awful it's absolutely horrible. I had no idea," Tams said. "If you're more interested in texting and sexting and not taking care of people's homes or whatever it would be horrible."

King said he conducted a sworn, video-recorded interview with the victim, where she admitted the details of her communication with the firefighter. On March 3, detective King, accompanied by detective Wedin, made contact with King and asked him about whether he knew the victim and if anyone else may have been in possession of his mobile phone. 

A portion of the affidavit regarding Key's response to whether he knew the victim was redacted. The affidavit showed Key told detectives no one else had access to his iPhone. 

Key was arrested March 9 and charged with use of a child in sexual performance. He is out of jail on $50,000 bond. He faces up to 15 years in prison.