Former Cop Enters Plea Deal in “Dateline” Predator Sting

Published by Fleet Tilden, Esq. at March 5, 2010

Former Alabama police officer, Todd Spikes, who was arrested during a “Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator” sting in Flagler Beach (Florida) has reached a plea deal on Thursday, March 4, 2010, that would put him on sex offender probation for 10 years but spare him prison time. Spikes was facing up to 20 years prison if convicted on the both Felony charges of Lewd and lascivious exhibition and computer pornography and child exploitation, a third-degree felony.

It was alleged that Spikes, 44, who currently lives near DeFuniak Springs, not far from the Alabama border, drove to Flagler Beach in December 2006 to have sex with a 13-year-old girl named “Lindsay,” but the victim was actually a 46-year-old decoy.

But Spikes drove away from the “Dateline” decoy house without getting out of his SUV, and police stopped him a few blocks away. Flagler Beach police said they found a shotgun, an assault rifle and handguns, all loaded, in Spikes’ vehicle.

Prosecutors agreed to drop a second count of lewd and lascivious exhibition as well as a charge of attempted lewd or lascivious battery as part of the deal. Spikes could apply for early termination of probation after five years if he meets other conditions.

Fleet Tilden, Esq.

Beginning in 1923, attorney John Tilden, Esq. established his law practice in Downtown Orlando with a full service law firm serving Central Florida residents. Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, attorney N. Fleetwood Tilden, Esq. began his Central Florida law practice after graduating from law school in 1993. After a career as an Assistant State Attorney prosecuting Central Florida criminal cases, the Law Office of Tilden Law was established. Practicing exclusively Criminal Defense, Mr. Tilden has handled over 5,000 criminal cases.